New Animal Health & Welfare Board
For the first time, people directly affected by Government policy on animal health and welfare will be able to make recommendations directly to Ministers.
It was announced that a new Animal Health and Welfare Board for England will bring experts including farmers, veterinarians, welfare experts and others from outside Government together with the Chief Veterinary Officer and civil servants to make direct policy recommendations.
Jim Paice, Agriculture Minister, said: "This is a completely new way of working. It replaces the old ways, where the people most affected by decisions were kept at arm's length from policy making on those subjects.
For more information on the new Board, you can visit the Defra website.