Animal Health was a UK government
executive agency
An executive agency is a part of a government department that is treated as managerially and budgetarily separate, to carry out some part of the executive functions of the United Kingdom government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government or No ...
primarily responsible for ensuring that farmed animals in
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...
were healthy, disease-free and well looked after.
One of its key roles was to implement government policies aimed at preventing or managing outbreaks of serious animal diseases. In doing so, it supported the farming industry, protected the welfare of farmed animals and safeguarded public health from animal-borne diseases.
In England and Wales, it also worked to protect public health by ensuring that dairy hygiene and egg production standards were met.
It regulated the trade in endangered species through
CITES.
Previously, Animal Health was also known as
State Veterinary Service.
The Scottish arm of the organisation was a member of
SEARS (Scotland's Environmental and Rural Services).
On 1 April 2011, it merged with the
Veterinary Laboratories Agency to form the
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency.
See also
*
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, medical diagnosis, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in non-human animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all a ...
*
National Office of Animal Health
References
External links
Official website
Defunct executive agencies of the United Kingdom government
Agricultural organisations based in the United Kingdom
Veterinary organizations
Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom
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