Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020: provisions and requirements for additional animal welfare, animal health and wildlife offences - review

4. Wider issues in animal welfare, animal health and protection of wildlife

As noted previously, under the 2020 Act, Scottish Ministers are obliged to consider whether the provisions of the Animals and Welfare (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 are sufficient to ensure appropriate standards of welfare. Also as noted previously, this is a wide-ranging ask for a single piece of legislation. It is important to note that the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 was never meant to solve all the challenges currently affecting the welfare of animals. It was targeted to make specific changes to penalties, protections and powers that we expect to have a beneficial impact, and that needed primary legislation to introduce.

The Scottish Government is well aware that there are many outstanding animal welfare issues that have yet to be resolved. As a society, we are facing old, entrenched animal welfare problems at the same time as new problems are coming to light, and societal expectations are constantly changing. Many animal welfare issues are technically and logistically complex and often highly emotive. The Scottish Government is committed to continual improvement of animal welfare in Scotland. However, we are also committed to producing legislation that is evidence-based, proportionate and fair. This results in steady progress, much of which is behind the scenes. While progress in some areas may be slower than many would like, this type of approach is crucial in order to ensure that we do not end up causing as many animal welfare problems as we resolve due to knee-jerk, ill thought-out legislation.

This part of the review therefore considers what other action the Scottish Government has recently taken, is taking, or plans to take that relates to the welfare of animals, whether wild or domestic. The topics dealt with here do not form an exhaustive list, but are selected topics of current interest.

4.1 Potential primary legislation

4.1.1 Cephalopods/decapods

Sentience

Decapod and cephalopod welfare is a relatively new area of animal welfare, prompted by the recognition that these animals are sentient and the passing of the UK Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022. There is currently no general welfare protection for cephalopods or decapods in Scotland under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

Sentience is the capacity to have feelings, such as feelings of pain, pleasure, hunger, thirst, warmth, joy, comfort and excitement. The ‘Review of the Evidence of Sentience in Cephalopod Molluscs and Decapod Crustaceans’ by the London School of Economics recommended that all cephalopod molluscs ((including octopods, squid and cuttlefish) and decapod crustaceans ((including crabs, lobsters and crayfish) be regarded as sentient animals for the purposes of UK animal welfare law, and this recommendation was taken forward by the UK Government by the passing of the UK Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022. This UK Act, which applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, came into effect on 22 May 2023. It defines an “animal” as: (a) any vertebrate other than homo sapiens, (b) any cephalopod mollusc, and (c) any decapod crustacean. It also introduces powers to enable the Secretary of State to add any further invertebrates within the meaning of ‘animal’ by regulation.

Welfare challenges

At this stage we understand relatively little about what constitutes ‘good welfare’ for these animals compared with, for example terrestrial pets and farm animals, for which decades of animal welfare research has been undertaken and animal welfare legislation has been in place for a long time. Cephalopods are generally only likely to be in captivity in small numbers in Scotland, mainly in zoos and aquariums, which already have best practice standards in place, or in private aquariums. However, decapods are regularly captured, transported, stored and slaughtered in huge numbers by the Scottish shellfish industry for human consumption.

We do have some knowledge about the potential welfare challenges facing decapod crustaceans thanks to the long history of the shellfish history, the activity of some animal welfare organisations in this area, and existing scientific research on at least some of the species concerned.

• Eyestalk ablation in farmed shrimp. Glands in the eyestalk regulate the ovaries. One or both eyestalks of breeding females are removed, often without anaesthetic, to increase egg production and reproductive success. Reproduction can be achieved in a commercial setting without ablation. This does not, to our knowledge, take place in Scotland.
• Returning declawed crabs to sea – A crab’s ability to regenerate limbs shed through autotomy (a natural behavioural response to damage) potentially allows the forced removal of one or both claws and the return of the crab to sea to re-grow them for further capture. This does not, to our knowledge, take place in Scotland.
• Capture of nephrops – The majority of decapod landings are relatively low value crustaceans caught by otter trawl – generally small nephrops either destined for scampi or for sale whole. These are hauled out of the water en masse and suffocate, much like fish caught by trawling.
• De-tailing of nephrops - Those destined for scampi (which only uses the tail) can sometimes be dismembered whilst still alive.
• Holding and transport - Live crustaceans can be subject to multiple cycles of handling, transport and storage. During each step between capture and eventual slaughter they are at risk from: damage and injury; inappropriate environment (water quality, salinity, temperature, pressure; air exposure; vibrations, light, noise); high stocking densities; lack of shelter/retreat; inability to express natural behaviour; inappropriate feeding/fasting; disease; stress and exhaustion.
• Banding of lobsters - Lobsters have their claws bound to avoid injury to other lobsters and handlers. This restricts movement and can cause loss of muscle as they may be stored in this way for up to 6 months before sale.
• Nicking of crabs - Crabs are generally only stored for 2 weeks before sale, but are often subjected to nicking (the fracturing of the apodemes and the cutting of tendons in the dactyls of claws to prevent functioning) to prevent injury to other crabs and handlers.
• Stunning and Slaughter - Methods used include: cold shock in air, ice or slurry ice; boiling; freshwater or salt baths; carbon dioxide narcosis; high pressure, mechanical splitting or spiking of the nervous system; dismemberment and electrical stunning. The majority of methods mentioned above are considered inhumane. Electro stunning followed by splitting (lobsters and similarly shaped species) or spiking (crabs) to effectively destroy their nerve centres are now considered the only acceptable methods for large crustaceans.
• Online sales and non-commercial capture – There is concern that crabs and lobsters may be sold online and delivered alive in the UK by retailers such as Amazon, possibly in an inappropriate manner. It is unlikely that a lay person would have the facilities or knowledge to be able to store these animals in a manner conducive to their welfare, or that they will have the facilities and knowledge to undertake a humane slaughter.

Current developments

Initial action is already being taken by industry and NGOs: retailers like Marks and Spencer and Tesco have developed policies around crustacean welfare; Marks and Spencer is involved in research to look at better methods of harvesting and processing nephrops, and an NGO-industry project led by Crustacean Compassion has developed a benchmarking protocol for welfare policies and working practices.

In June 2024, Seafish, the Shellfish Association of Great Britain, and the Crab and Lobster Group published the first ever UK industry Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Crabs, Lobsters, Crawfish and Nephrops. These bring together current best practice across the catching, wholesale, transport, processing, retail, and food services sectors. As scientific knowledge develops, it is anticipated that these Codes will be updated.

Current legislation in Scotland

Section 16(1) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 defines “animal” as meaning a vertebrate other than man. The 2006 Act does allow for Scottish Ministers to regulate to extend the definition of “animal” to include invertebrates of any description if the Scottish Ministers are satisfied, on the basis of scientific evidence, that creatures of the kind concerned are capable of experiencing pain or suffering (see sections 16(3) and (4) of the 2006 Act). However, Section 47 of the 2006 Act excludes anything that occurs in the normal course of fishing from Part 2 of the 2006 Act.

Next Steps

Careful consideration, further research, discussion with stakeholders, and consultation is required before the Scottish Government will be in a position to begin amending and/or introducing legislation to protect these animals.

The Scottish Government is currently working on a gap analysis in discussion with Defra and the other devolved administrations, looking at the welfare challenges faced by these animals, what evidence there is to support potential solutions, and what further research needs to be commissioned.

4.2 Potential secondary legislation

4.2.1 Glue traps

The banning of glue traps in England came into force on 31 July 2024 under the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022, and allows pest professionals to continue to use rodent glue boards under licence. Similarly, on 17 October 2023, the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023 created a new criminal offence of using glue traps in Wales.

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 contains a provision which will allow the Scottish Government to ban the use, possession and sale of glue traps. Scottish Government officials are in discussions with policy colleagues in the UK Government regarding their views on Internal Market Act 2020 implications of our proposed glue traps sale and possession ban. However, we await an update on the stance of the UK Government regarding the Internal Market Act.

4.2.2 Live animal transport

The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to the highest possible welfare standards of all animals during transport, including livestock. Our preferred policy position is to end unnecessary long-distance transport of livestock, for animals to be killed as close to their farm of origin as possible, and to have consistent animal transport legislation across Great Britain. The Scottish Government has brought into force legislation which bans live exports of animals for fattening and slaughter.

Domestic live transports

The Scottish Government recognises that the current pattern of livestock transportation within Scotland is crucial to the viability of livestock farming in rural and island communities. Scottish Government officials were engaged in discussions with colleagues from other administrations and stakeholders across the United Kingdom on potential domestic animal welfare in transport reforms. These discussions and reforms were paused by the previous UK Government and this work has not been restarted since the change in the UK Government. Transport reforms would only work efficiently if they were brought in on a UK wide basis and we are awaiting an update of the UK Government’s intentions in this area. However any proposed reforms would need to continue to allow established patterns of livestock movements in Scotland.

Northern Isles SRUC research project.

Domestic transport between the Northern Isles and the Scottish mainland presents a unique set of challenges. The Scottish Government commissioned research to understand the impact of ferry journeys on livestock being transported between the Northern Isles and the mainland, aiming to maximise animal welfare whilst avoiding significant constraints on this important trade. SRUC were awarded the commission to undertake the research. This project took place throughout 2023, and the findings were published in August 2024. Some improvements were suggested but the findings confirmed that good standards of animal welfare were being maintained in the unique cassette system that is used on these routes.

Live Exports

It was a 2021-22 Programme for Government commitment to work with other UK administrations on legislation to control exports of livestock. The Scottish Government lodged a legislative consent memorandum for The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill on 19 December 2023 and this was considered and passed in the Scottish Parliament on the 22 February 2024. The Commencement Regulations were laid in the Scottish Parliament on 17 June 2024 and came into force on 22 July 2024. The Scottish Government welcomed the Bill receiving Royal Assent in the UK Parliament and worked jointly with the UK Government and other devolved administrations to make and implement the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Enforcement Regulations 2024.

Next Steps

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with other Government administrations and stakeholders regarding the consideration of potential methods of improving the welfare of animals whilst being transported within the UK. The outputs of the SRUC research project will be carefully considered and will feed into this process.

4.2.3 Further licensing of animal activities

Consultation

The Scottish Government consulted from July – September 2023 on proposals to extend statutory licensing to a number of animal care activities- commercial dog walking, dog grooming, equine livery services and canine fertility businesses. Views on licensing of greyhound racing in Scotland were also sought, as were views on proposals to revoke existing pet boarding and riding establishments legislation, with a view to licensing instead under the existing licensing framework - the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. The analysis of consultation responses was published on the Scottish Government’s website on 16 February.

With one exception (licensing of greyhounds), the responses received demonstrated strong overall support for the introduction of statutory licensing. Of particular note is the strong support for the introduction of stringent controls for those offering canine fertility services, with 89% of respondents supportive. There is evidence to suggest that some individuals providing canine fertility services engage in or facilitate unethical and/or low-welfare breeding practices, misuse or supply controlled veterinary medicines, have links to wider criminality and even undertake acts of veterinary surgery.

Challenges around implementation of licensing

The consultation also highlighted a number of potential challenges around the delivery of new licensing legislation, including:

• The capacity of local authorities to enforce new licensing requirements when finances and staff are already stretched. It is recognised that enforcement of existing licensing legislation is already challenging many authorities.
• The training needs of inspectors to allow for meaningful inspection of premises, particularly for canine fertility clinics and equine related activities where specialist knowledge will be needed. It is recognised that inspection of such businesses cannot simply be a tick-box exercise.
• Availability of veterinary expertise to assist with inspections, enforcement etc.
• The overall impact of licensing on business operators, particularly the costs associated with compliance with new requirements.
• Whether better / more robust enforcement of existing statute would address the issues associated with certain activities, negating the need for additional regulation.

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has initiated an inquiry into the role of and challenges facing local authorities in enforcing animal health and welfare legislation. The Scottish Ministers will consider the findings of SAWC’s inquiry when available.

Next Steps

Our focus right now is to move forward with regulating canine fertility services, due to the significant animal welfare concerns. On 16 August 2024, the Scottish Government announced its intention to bring forward legislation to regulate the activities of canine fertility businesses. This will restrict the services that these businesses can offer and ensure transparency and accountability. It is proposed that licences be issued on an annual basis with licence holders subject to regular inspection. We will seek to lay draft legislation before the Scottish Parliament for its approval at the earliest opportunity.

The Scottish Government will announce its next steps on the other animal activities on which we have consulted in due course. We are acutely aware of the pressures on local authorities who are seeing unprecedented demand for their services at a time when finances are tight. We therefore need to be realistic and assess the implications of imposing additional licensing duties on the councils at this time. We are therefore currently assessing whether less onerous and more proportionate approaches, such as registration schemes linked to codes of conduct, could deliver similar outcomes to licensing. Once we have explored the efficacy of such proposals with local authorities and other stakeholders we will announce how we will proceed.

The replacement of the outdated Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 with new requirements under the animal activities regulations that reflect wide range of activities and experiences animals are involved in in modern Scotland remains under consideration. The Scottish Government has asked the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission to consider the matter of performing animals and other animal experiences. We will consider their report before proposing a potential way forward on this matter.

4.2.4 Greyhound racing

Call to ban

We recognise that there are calls for the Scottish Government to end the racing of greyhounds in Scotland. We are currently unconvinced that a ban on the grounds of welfare is proportionate given the scale of the activity in Scotland. With only one active greyhound track in Scotland, it is important that any measures introduced are proportionate, fair and informed by evidence. We consider that significant welfare concerns can already be addressed using provisions within the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Action can be taken if the welfare needs of greyhounds, whether still racing or retired, are not being met, with anyone mistreating an animal potentially facing up to five years imprisonment and unlimited fines. Further protection could also potentially be put in place via licensing.

SAWC report on the welfare of racing greyhounds

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission published their report on the welfare of racing greyhounds in March 2023. The report balanced some key concerns associated with greyhound racing - both welfare and ethical – against some of the benefits including welfare benefits linked to the dog’s natural desire to run. Key recommendations in SAWC’s report included: the introduction of a licensing scheme independent of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain; veterinary presence during racing; and the independent collation of data on injuries, fatalities and similar information. SAWC’s report also recommends that no new greyhound tracks be permitted in Scotland and, in concluding its findings, stated “If Thornton were to close, Scotland would be in the position of having no organised greyhound racing taking place, which on balance we consider desirable”

Proposal to license

We consulted on proposals to license greyhound racing in Scotland between July and September 2023. The proposals consulted on reflected SAWC’s recommendations. The analysis of responses can be found here: consultation analysis. The consultation demonstrated support for action on greyhound racing, although respondents were evenly split between those supportive of licensing and those desiring an end to racing. The Scottish Government continues to consider the case for licensing greyhound racing in Scotland and will announce its next steps in due course.

Members Bill

We are aware that Mark Ruskell MSP has introduced proposals for a Member’s Bill that would prohibit greyhound racing in Scotland. Clearly, should this Bill be passed by the Scottish Parliament there would be no need for a licensing regime.

Next Steps

The Scottish Government will continue to monitor progress with Mr Ruskell’s Bill before considering whether to move forward with the proposed licensing scheme.

4.2.5 Cages for gamebirds and laying hens

The Scottish Government committed to consult on the phasing out of cages for laying hens and game birds as part of both the 2021 and 2023 Programmes for Government. This reflected a demand from society to move to more ethical production systems and the Scottish Government’s intention to bring welfare standards in line with wider public values, as well as remaining aligned with likely developments across the EU.

Consultation – laying hens

The last major change the laying hen industry went through was the ban on using barren battery cages that saw some producers move to enriched cages and others to barn or free range egg production. The legislation for that ban was introduced across the European Union in 1999, however the actual ban itself did not fully come into effect until 2012. According to the British Egg Industry Council, the move cost the industry between £200-£350 million to implement.

The Scottish Government ran a consultation from 2 April to 25 June 2024, in which we sought views on a proposal to prohibit new cages from 2030 and to ban cage production entirely by 2034. This would include the few barren battery cages which remain in use for laying hen units with fewer than 350 birds, pullets and breeder layers, and enriched cages. The proposal aims to make these improvements to animal welfare standards in a way that is also sustainable and economically viable for the Scottish egg industry. The timescale proposed in the consultation was considered both practically and financially appropriate for egg producers to plan for infrastructure replacement/renewal and seek capital investment for these changes whilst ensuring the sustainability of their businesses.

Call for evidence - gamebirds

There are concerns around the practices and systems used for gamebirds that significantly restrict or prevent expression of a bird’s normal behaviours. However, before considering any detailed proposals on cage use in gamebirds, the Scottish Government sought to expand its understanding of the gamebird industry. We also wished to find out more about quail egg and meat production in Scotland, especially the extent to which cages are used for housing egg-laying and meat birds.

A Call for Evidence on phasing out the use of cages in the game bird and quail egg and meat sectors was issued on 22 April 2024 and closed on 12 July 2024. The species covered by the call were pheasants, partridges and quail, either home-bred or imported, where birds were reared under farm conditions, whether or not for subsequent release. All parties with an interest or involved in the sector were invited to contribute, with the aim of helping frame any future consultation in such a way that it asks the right questions and elicits responses to guide future actions that continue to support this important sector while enhancing animal welfare.

Next Steps

A report of the analysis of both the laying hens consultation and the call for evidence for gamebirds and quail is expected in 2025. Proposals for future legislation, if any, will depend on the results of consultation and consideration of the scientific evidence.

4.2.6 Farrowing crates for pigs

Current position

There have been concerns around the confinement of sows in farrowing crates for a number of years. These systems are designed to minimise the risk of piglets being crushed, but at the expense of the sow’s freedom of movement. The Scottish Government Guidance for the Welfare of Pigs states that:

• Where the sow is confined in a farrowing crate, it should be large enough to accommodate her and to allow her to rise and lie down without difficulty, and should be easily accessed in an emergency.
• The crate length should be sufficient to allow her to lie laterally with her head in contact with the floor and allow space for farrowing.
• The sow should be confined in a crate for the minimum time necessary following farrowing, and not after she has finished suckling piglets.
• Where the farrowing crate incorporates a design that can be opened up to allow the sow to turn freely, this should be carried out as soon as practicable for the individual sow and litter, ideally by four days and no more than seven days after farrowing, unless on veterinary advice there is an overriding health or welfare reason to alter this.

Research and commercial development

The Scottish Government funds research into farm animal welfare at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), including the development of alternative farrowing systems. This enables producers to make informed decisions when they are considering options for renewing their existing infrastructure. As part of this work SRUC worked with Newcastle University to develop PigSAFE, a specially designed pen system that takes into account the behavioural needs of both the sow and her piglets. The PigSAFE system is now commercially available, and although not yet in use on a large scale, it is positive to see that free farrowing options are available to producers. All companies constructing pig housing in the UK now offer an "alternative" system to farrowing crates whereas five years ago they did not. There are already a number of free farrowing units in Scotland where sows are able to nest in hutches outdoors and farrow naturally.

Consultation

In light of the progress made on the availability of alternatives to farrowing crates, in our Programme for Government 2021-22 the Scottish Government committed to consult on proposals to phase out the use of farrowing crates for pigs. Given the cross-UK nature of the pig industry, it was agreed with other Government Administrations that a consultation would be delivered jointly across all UK countries; however, this has still to be arranged.

Next Steps

The Scottish Government remains committed to a consultation on phasing out the use of farrowing crates, and Scottish Ministers continue to be willing, where it is practical and logical to do so, to deliver animal welfare policy and legislation jointly across the UK.

We will continue to listen and work with the pig industry and stakeholders on how best to achieve improvements in pig welfare, and how to ensure that best practice is delivered. We will also continue to monitor developments in the EU.

4.2.7 Lamb castration and tail docking

AWC Opinion

The UK Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) submitted an Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs to the UK Government and GB devolved administrations in December 2022. The Opinion recommended that castration and tail docking practices should be restricted: they should be carried out only when absolutely necessary and agreed by a vet; and in circumstances where they are considered necessary, anaesthetics and analgesics should be used with any method where significant pain is likely to be caused. If implemented, this would put an end to the standard practice of using a rubber ring with no pain relief for lambs of any age.

AWC recommended that amended legislation should come into force by 2028, and that in the meantime arrangements should be put in place to incentivise and support new farming practices, including the availability of suitable castration and tail docking methods.

The Scottish Government is currently considering the AWC Opinion and its recommendations. Officials have been holding discussions with various industry bodies to understand their views on the recommendations, and it is intended that a formal consultation should take place in 2025.

Current work

The AWC Opinion notes that there is extensive scientific evidence that the standard methods of castration all cause acute pain in lambs of all ages, and that tail docking, while less painful than castration, is also associated with behavioural and physiological indicators of pain in lambs. We are therefore encouraging stockkeepers – aside from any possible future legislative change – to consider the need for castrating and tail docking, and to consider using higher welfare methods where possible.

We commissioned SRUC to produce a revised technical note on lamb castration and tail docking which refers to the AWC Opinion and provides information on new higher welfare techniques; and to produce a guidance video on Clipfitter, a new device which appears to cause less pain than other techniques. We are also providing funding to vets – through the Small Producer Pilot Fund – to raise awareness with smallholders and crofters about the new techniques, and are working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and SRUC to make Clipfitter devices available for small producers for training and use on their lambs. We are considering whether it might be possible to make further funding available to incentivise and support new farming practices in relation to castration and tail docking.

Next Steps

We will seek the views of a wide range of stakeholders through a formal consultation on the AWC recommendations, before making decisions about any legislative change. Meanwhile, we will continue to support farmers and other stockkeepers to consider the welfare implications of castrating and tail docking and, in situations where these practices are necessary, to choose higher welfare options.

4.3 Animal health pilots

4.3.1 Sheep Scab Pilot project

Sheep scab is a notifiable disease in Scotland due to the impacts it has on animal welfare and its ability to spread easily amongst flocks. The Scottish Government has provided £461,000 for a three-year industry led sheep scab control strategy pilot on Lewis and Harris which aims to demonstrate how an approach with farmers and others in the agricultural industry working together effectively can lead to solutions that improve animal health.

The pilot uses recent developments to guide targeted treatment to reduce to the incidence of sheep scab in hot spot areas. Around 90% of the total sheep population on Lewis and Harris have benefitted from a co-ordinated treatment programme, and has built a stronger community through co-operative working.

The overall aims of the project are to use the sheep scab ELISA test to facilitate targeted treatments for sheep scab allowing us to demonstrate a reduction in the incidence of scab in an Island setting and which can be developed for future scab control measures which can be replicated in other Islands or remote areas of Scotland.

4.3.2 OPA Pilot Project

The Scottish Government has provided £240,000 for a two year pilot project which aims to control Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (OPA) within the national flock.

In the absence of a true diagnostic test in live animals, the programme aims to put in place vital infrastructure and training needed to tackle this disease within the national flock. The project has been co-developed with the Scottish industry led OPA working group and will increase the number of veterinary practitioners with the skills to recognise signs of OPA in live sheep through ultrasound scanning.

Sheep keepers will benefit through earlier diagnosis and interventions allowing for affected animals to be culled and removed from flocks at an earlier stage. This pilot will assist veterinary practitioners in gaining specialist skills to recognise signs of OPA in live sheep through OPA scanning.

4.3.3 Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome

PRRS is a viral disease of pigs that has significant welfare and economic impact on pig production. PRRS affects roughly 40% of pig herds in Scotland and the disease leads to immune suppression and inefficiency in reproduction in affected pigs, particularly causing piglet mortality and leading to increased use of antibiotics. PRRS spreads very easily between premises, and therefore without national collaboration to tackle the disease it is very difficult to eradicate.

In 2024, funding was secured for year one of a national, industry-led project which aims to eradicate PRRS in Scotland and strengthen biosecurity standards on pig farms. This will be achieved by testing all pig units in Scotland to establish the true extent of disease, mapping where disease currently exists, and educating farmers on how they can improve their biosecurity through a vet visit to assess their premises and the use of an app to provide tailored biosecurity advice. The improved biosecurity will also protect against incursions of other diseases, such as African Swine Fever, which is currently spreading at pace across Europe.