Scottish Animal Welfare Commission minutes: 8 May 2024

Attendees and apologies

Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) members

• Cathy Dwyer, Chair
• Harvey Carruthers
• Libby Anderson
• Mike Radford
• Mike Flynn
• James Yeates
• Andrew Kitchener
• Simon Girling
• Pete Goddard
• Paula Boyden
• Marie Haskell
• Ellie Wigham

Scottish Government

• Andrew Voas, Veterinary Head of Animal Welfare
• Andy McKinlay, Policy Officer and Secretariat Support, Animal Welfare Team

Items and actions

Welcome

The Chair welcomed the members to the second plenary meeting of 2024. 

Updates and activity since last plenary meeting

SAWC

Since the last plenary meeting in February 2024:

SAWC responded to three consultations:

• a Scottish Government consultation on the national Good Food Nation Plan
• a Joint UK/Scottish/Welsh/NI consultation on fairer food labelling
• a Scottish Government consultation on managing deer for climate and nature

• SAWC wrote a letter to the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity setting out its views on the definition of a badger sett
• SAWC wrote a letter to the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, which provided further information on the pinioning of ornamental birds
• SAWC responded to a number of pieces of correspondence on issues such as the welfare of dogs, cats and wildlife

• SAWC is also planning to respond to a Scottish Government consultation on a proposal to phase out the use of cages in Scotland’s laying hen sector which is open until 25 June

• SAWC’s working groups have continued to work on a range of animal welfare issues (see Work Group Updates section below)

Scottish Government

Officials continue to monitor and work with  DEFRA on issues which may extend to Scotland or have a potential impact in Scotland.  Key interests in: the UK Live Exports Bill; the import of cats and dogs

The Dangerous Dogs (Scotland) Order 2024 fully comes into force in July

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill was passed in March

Work on the following bills is ongoing:

• Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill
• Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill

Public consultations have taken place on:

• Licensing of dog walking, grooming, equine establishments and canine fertility services
• Phasing out cages for laying hens
• Managing deer for climate and nature

Work is ongoing in several other areas, including on:

• Castration and tail docking of lambs
• Livestock transport and welfare of trade
• Killing of fish

Work Group Updates

Aquaculture

The working group has continued to discuss the issue of cleanerfish.  A field visit to see a fish farm which uses cleanerfish took place at the end of February, and there have been several meetings with operators of other cleanerfish facilities to learn how they are used, reared and managed.

Dog Training

Ongoing discussions on other aversive training measures, and meetings with stakeholders.

Sentience

Ongoing discussions on fish sentience and their capabilities, and perceived inconsistencies in the existing legislation.

Wildlife Welfare

SAWC responded to a consultation on managing deer for climate and nature; and wrote a letter to the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity setting out its views on the definition of a badger sett (referenced above in the SAWC general updates).

Ongoing discussions on the issue of translocations and reintroductions.

The Wild Animal Welfare Committee (WAWC) is holding an online conference on wildlife management on 16 May.

A catch up with NatureScot originally planned for March has been rescheduled for June.

Local Authorities Handling Animal Welfare Issues

The working group continues to discuss these issues and is reaching out to local authorities across Scotland to learn about the issues they face.

Responsible Cat Care

Ongoing discussions around issues of microchipping, vaccination and neutering, the management of feral cat numbers and risks to wildcats through hybridisation.  Members continue to work on a report and hope to circulate a version to all members ahead of the next SAWC plenary.

Slaughter and Mobile Abattoirs

This working group continues to discuss issues around slaughter and mobile abattoirs, and continues to engage with various stakeholders and gather evidence in relation to animal movements to slaughter in Scotland.

Work Plan Discussion

Members discussed if any potential revisions should be made to the current work plan.

Updates on activity of Animal Welfare Committee and Animal Sentience Committee

AWC

AWC provided a written up on some of its ongoing work, including activity around the following areas:

• International rehoming

• Livestock breeding
• Fur – responsible sourcing
• Precision bred animals
• Welfare implications of feline breeding practices
• Welfare implications of specialised canine reproductive practices
• Poultry culling and nitrogen foam
• Equines at slaughter

ASC

ASC provided a written update on some of its recent work, including:

• Publication of three reports on:

• The Renters (Reform) Bill
• The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act
• The Veterinary Medicines Regulations (2013) Revisions

• ASC also recently published a letter containing its views on XL Bullies

The AWC plenary will take place in Edinburgh on 9th May 2024.

Next Meeting/s

The next plenary meeting will take place on Thursday 8th August 2024.

Any other business

Other issues raised and discussed included:

• Dog control legislation
• The upcoming EuroFAWC annual meeting which is taking place this year in Edinburgh, on 15-16 May