Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 - draft: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment - screening

CRWIA Stage 1 – Screening

Brief Summary

The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2010 require anyone responsible for a farmed animal to be acquainted with, and have access to, the relevant code of practice or animal welfare guidance for that animal. They must also ensure that anyone employed or engaged by them is acquainted with the code of practice or animal welfare guidance, has access to it, and has received instruction and guidance in relation to it. The codes of practice / animal welfare guidance provide good practice recommendations to assist keepers in complying with the legal requirements in relation to animal welfare.

New Guidance for the Welfare of Pigs was published in November 2023, to replace the existing Code of Practice for the Welfare of Pigs (2012). The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 will therefore amend the 2010 Regulations to include the new Guidance for the Welfare of Pigs in the definition of ‘animal welfare guidance’. The effect of this will be that anyone responsible for a farmed pig must thereafter be acquainted with, and have access to, the new guidance for the welfare of pigs, and must ensure that anyone employed or engaged by them is also acquainted with the guidance, has access to it and has received instruction on it.

The legal requirements for the care of pigs are set out in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2010, and remain unchanged. New developments in animal welfare, however, mean that there are new recommendations for how these legal requirements might be met, but it is not anticipated that these updated recommendations will have a significant impact on those working with pigs.

Start date of relevant proposal: October 2023

Start date of CRWIA process: October 2023

Which aspects of the relevant proposal currently affects or will affect children and young people up to the age of 18?

Young people under 18 will be affected if they are responsible for a farmed pig or pigs. The 2024 Amendment Regulations will mean that they must be acquainted with the new Guidance for the Welfare of Pigs, rather than the 2012 Code of Practice.

Which groups of children and young people are currently or will be affected by the relevant proposal?

Young people who are responsible for a farmed pig or pigs will be affected.

Declaration

Is a Stage 2 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment required?

CRWIA not required

Explanation why CRWIA is not required:

A CRWIA is not required because there will be no impact on the rights or welfare of young people responsible for farmed pigs as a result of the change from the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Pigs to the Guidance for the Welfare of Pigs.

Sign & Date

Policy Lead Signature & Date of Sign Off: Andrew Voas 14th November 2023

Deputy Director Signature & Date of Sign Off: Sheila Voas 28^th November 2023