United Kingdom

Name

Animal Welfare Committee UK (AWC)

Web address

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/animal-welfare-committee-awc

Scope/mission statement

FAWC is an expert committee required to:

(i) To provide independent, authoritative, impartial and timely advice, to Defra and the Scottish and Welsh Governments:

• on the welfare of farmed animals, including farmed animals on agricultural land, at market, in transit and at the place of killing
• on any other matters that might be considered necessary to improve standards of animal welfare

(ii) To provide independent, authoritative, impartial, and timely advice, to Defra and the Welsh Government:

• on the welfare of companion animals and wild animals kept by people

(iii) To provide independent scientific support and advice, as requested, in line with Article 20 of Committee Regulation (EC) No.1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing (also advising the Northern Ireland Assembly in this respect).

Structure

Chair and 14 members bringing their individual expertise in scientific, veterinary and practical aspects of animal welfare.  Secretariat provided by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Working methods

FAWC produces advice to government in response to policy questions from the UK governments, forming task and finish groups to address the questions.  A standing committee on Welfare at the Time of Killing meets the UK’s statutory requirement for a source of scientific support on EC Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing.

Publications

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fawc-advice-to-government  (still using this at present for FAWC advice – there will be a new page for AWC advice when it produces its first report)

Contact details

Email: awcsecretariat@defra.gov.uk

Telephone: 0208 02 63936 or 63577

AWC Secretariat
Area 2D, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
LONDON
SW1P 3JR