NEW GUIDELINES ON animal welfare have been launched that deal with the treatment of horses at fairs, markets and sales.
The guidelines were produced by the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC) and launched today by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD.
On the new guidelines, FAWAC Chairperson Patrick Fottrell, said, “There is no doubt that horses and ponies make a significant contribution to the economy as well as to sport and recreation… the welfare guidelines have been produced so as to assist all those who are responsible for ensuring the welfare of horses at gatherings and sales.”
Under the new guidelines a number of areas are provisioned for. These include:
In March Minister Coveney signed a commencement order on the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. This action brought into operation core elements of the act that extended new powers relating to animal welfare.
Under the new Act judges were for the first time granted power to prevent a person convicted of cruelty towards an animal, or failing to protect the welfare of an animal, from working with or owning animals.
Speaking about the new guidelines today Minister Coveney said, “Horses have long been an integral part of the Irish tradition and our way of life and there is no doubt that horses and ponies make a positive contribution to the national economy and to the sport and recreation sector, which is a significant source of employment in the country.”
By maintaining the recommendations in the guidelines, all those who are responsible for ensuring the welfare of horses at fairs, marts and sales can demonstrate their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of practice in horse welfare.
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