Question
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have carried out an assessment of the affect on animal welfare of the Farriers' Qualification (European Recognition) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/646); and if so, with what results.
Answer
The Farriers' Qualifications (European Recognition) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/646) amend the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975. The amendments made were necessary in order to implement fully directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, the main provisions of which were implemented by the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007 (SI 2008/2781) which came into force on 19 October 2007. The Farriers' Qualifications (European Recognition) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/646) amend the Farriers (Registration) Act to provide for the registration of those intending and entitled to provide farriery on a temporary basis in the UK as well as those farriers wanting to do so on a permanent basis. No formal assessment of the impact of these regulations on animal welfare has been carried out. Provisions on the formalities that competent authorities and EU migrants must comply with, and the evidence as to qualifications that migrants must submit to demonstrate entitlement to pursue farriery in the UK in accordance with the directive, are dealt with in the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007 (SI 2008/2781). The Farriers' Qualifications (European Recognition) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/646) cross-refer to those regulations. The amendment to the Farriers Registration Act, providing for registration of temporary providers of farriery services in Part V of the Farriers Register, will have a positive impact on animal welfare because it will enable the Farriers Registration Council to take disciplinary action against those registrants, should this be necessary.