Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984 facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act to amend the provisions of the Animal Health Act 1981 relating to the seizure of things for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease, to powers of entry and declarations as to places infected with a disease and to enable certain orders under that Act to operate in or over territorial waters; to amend the Slaughter of Poultry Act 1967; to enable provision to be made for controlling the practice of artificial breeding of livestock; to repeal the Improvement of Live Stock (Licensing of Bulls) Act 1931 and the Horse Breeding Act 1958; to amend the Medicines Act 1968 in relation to feeding stuffs and veterinary drugs; and for connected purposes. |
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| Citation | 1984 c. 40 |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 12 July 1984 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repeals/revokes |
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Status: Current legislation
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk | |
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984 was an important UK law. It changed parts of an older law, the Animal Health Act 1981. This Act helped to keep animals healthy and safe across the United Kingdom.
This law made several updates. It allowed for taking things away to stop diseases from spreading. It also gave people the power to enter private places to check for animal health issues. The Act allowed officials to declare areas where animal diseases were found. It also made sure certain rules could work in the sea near the UK.
The 1984 Act also changed the Slaughter of Poultry Act 1967. This older law was about how chickens and other birds were killed. The new Act also brought in ways to control how farm animals are bred using special methods. It got rid of two older laws: the Improvement of Live Stock (Licensing of Bulls) Act 1931 and the Horse Breeding Act 1958. Finally, it updated parts of the Medicines Act 1968 about animal food and medicines.
Contents
Protecting Animals from Disease
This Act was very important for stopping animal diseases. It gave rules for how to deal with sick animals. It also helped prevent diseases from spreading to other animals or even to people.
Stopping Disease Spread
One key part of the Act was about stopping diseases. If animals were sick, the law allowed for quick action. This could include taking away items that might spread the sickness. It also allowed for checking places where animals lived.
Rules for Infected Areas
The Act made it possible to mark places as infected. This meant that special rules would apply there. These rules helped to control the disease. They stopped it from moving to other farms or areas.
Breeding and Animal Care
The Act also looked at how farm animals are bred. It aimed to make sure this was done safely and correctly. This helped to improve the health of livestock.
Modern Breeding Methods
The 1984 Act introduced rules for modern breeding. This included methods like artificial breeding of livestock. These rules helped to make sure animals were bred in a healthy way. They also aimed to prevent problems with animal health.
Updating Older Laws
This Act replaced some very old laws. The laws about breeding bulls and horses were from 1931 and 1958. The 1984 Act brought these rules up to date. This showed how animal care was changing over time.
Medicines and Animal Food
The Act also made changes to rules about animal medicines. It also covered what animals eat. This helped to make sure animals got safe food and proper care.
Safe Animal Products
The Act updated the Medicines Act 1968. This part of the law focused on animal feed and drugs. It helped to ensure that these products were safe for animals. It also made sure they were used correctly.
Changes Over Time
Laws can change as society learns more. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984 was updated later. For example, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 changed some penalties. It increased the time for certain offenses related to animal breeding. This showed how serious these issues were.
See also
- Agriculture Act 1970
