Animal Welfare

Torfaen County Borough Council has statutory powers to undertake animal health and welfare duties within the area, contained in the Animal Health Act 1981 and 2002, the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968, European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006, together with associated legislation.

Torfaen enforce animal health and welfare legislation alongside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Sometimes, we will involve other government bodies and independent organisations like the RSPCA.

The functions undertaken within the Torfaen area include the following:

• Programmed Animal Health and Welfare premises inspections on agricultural holdings, to ensure compliance with records and welfare and any resulting enforcement work as may necessary
• Responding to all complaints/enquiries relating to Animal Health and Welfare issues relating to agricultural holdings, 
• All data entry, record keeping and reporting that is required of Torfaen County Borough Council for Animal Health and Welfare for the areas listed above
• Leading in the investigation of all notifiable diseases for Animal Health 
• Investigating complaints regarding welfare

Animal Health Officers endeavour to comply with our duties to contribute towards a safe, healthy and fair environment and to monitor and influence the treatment of animals, enforcing applicable standards where appropriate.

General rules make owners and keepers responsible for the welfare needs of all their animals. Detailed legislation and codes of practice exist to protect animal welfare on farms, in transit, at markets and at slaughter or killing. These include the need:

• for a suitable environment (place to live)
• for a suitable diet
• to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
• to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)
• to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease

If you have an animal welfare complaint that relates to companion animals and or horses then the matter should be reported to the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 or another suitable animal welfare organisation/charity.

For further information regarding any of the above or non-urgent enquiries please contact animalhealth@torfaen.gov.uk or alternatively please ring 01633 647286.