Animal health and welfare

We work to:

• prevent and control outbreaks of animal disease
• protect the welfare of livestock - on farm, in transit and at animal gatherings
• safeguard human health and the food chain from contamination and contagious diseases

Our work includes:

• visiting keepers of livestock to ensure they are complying with disease control and welfare rules
• checks on livestock movements
• checks on vehicles that transport animals
• attending animal gatherings
• investigating allegations of livestock welfare abuse
• investigating breaches of animal importation by-products disposal rules

Animal disease response

In preparation of any potential livestock disease outbreaks a multi agency plan is in place.

This has been developed by Suffolk Trading Standards and the Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit.

This plan allows coordinated contingency planning to take place within Suffolk and is updated in line with the National Framework Response Plan to Exotic Animal Diseases.

During notifiable disease outbreaks Suffolk Trading Standards works with multiagency partners to enforce the rules designed to control and isolate any outbreaks.

In recent years Avian Influenza (bird flu) outbreaks have impacted Suffolk requiring kept birds to be housed. 

Find out the latest information and guidance on Avian Influenza (Bird Flu).

Report livestock health and welfare concerns

To report concerns about the welfare of livestock or a breach of animal disease controls please email Suffolk Trading Standards via tradingstandards@suffolk.gov.uk

To find out the requirements of keeping and moving livestock, read our livestock premises assessment guide (Word, 74KB).

The government offers advice on:

• animal welfare
• how to report animal movements