Enforcement of the laws governing the welfare of farmed animals.
Received: 4 March 2026
I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('the Act') to request information concerning enforcement of the laws governing the welfare of farmed animals. Terminology By 'farmed animals', we refer to any animal bred or kept for the production of food, wool or skin or other farming purposesThe premises referred to in this question are:Farms keeping animals for commercial use*Livestock markets that sell and trade live animals*National and international border control posts **Vehicles transporting farmed animals for commercial purposes*Where referencing Transport Vehicles, we are referring to welfare issues during transport and vehicle related issues which breach animal welfare lawBy 'inspections', we refer to on-site inspections on behalf of your organisation.By welfare complaints, we are referring to any complaints relating to animal cruelty, neglect or failure to meet the welfare needs of an animal, whether from members of the public, animal protection organisations, staff members, veterinary surgeons etc.Please could you provide the following information in relation to farmed animal species only during the period 1 January 2025 - 31 December 2025:3.Do you enforce farmed animal welfare legislation? c.If the answer is no, please explain why e.g. no farms, a different local authority doesd. etc.j.If a different local authority enforces this legislation in your area, please informk. us which one? l.If your answer to question 1 is 'no', please do not respond to the below questions.4.Do you work with another local authority to conduct your farmed animal welfare enforcement5. and if so which one? Please also clarify whether the below data is likely to be duplicated by them. 5.How many of each of the following premises in your jurisdiction were inspected for welfare6. purposes one or more times?7.c.Farms;d.g.Markets;h.k.Borders; andl.o.Transport vehicles.p.For the avoidance of doubt, if the same premise was inspected more than once, it should only be recorded once.6.What was the total number of inspections that were conducted for welfare purposes in7.your jurisdiction at the following premises?b.c.Farms;g.Markets;h.k.Borders; andl.o.Transport vehicles.p.Please note that this question refers to the total number of inspections, not premises inspected. Therefore, the numbers can include situations where multiple inspections took place on the same premise.7.How many of these inspections found non-compliance with animal welfare law at the following8. premises?9.c.Farms;d.g.Markets; h.k.Borders; andl.o.Transport vehicles.7.8.Statutory Notices 9.6A) Please list whether an improvement notice under section 10 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 was issued on each of the occasions an inspection revealed non-compliance at each of the following: b.c.Farms;g.Markets;j.k.Borders; andl.o.Transport vehicles.p.6B) Please list whether a compliance notice under The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 was issued on each of the occasions an inspection revealed non-compliance at each of the following: c.Farms;d.g.Markets;h.k.Borders; andl.o.Transport vehicles.p.9.Please list whether a prosecution was commenced or referred to a central prosecution10. service or any other enforcement body on each of the occasions an inspection revealed non-compliance with animal welfare law ac.Farms;d.g.Markets;h.k.Borders; andl.o.Transport vehicles.p.