Volume 9: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Part 1: Wales
3. Statutory framework and responsibilities
Legislation on animal health

3.7 The Secretary of State for Wales shared responsibility for most animal health matters with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Secondary legislation introduced in response to the BSE outbreak was mostly made under the Animal Health Act 1981, which applied across Great Britain. Thus the usual procedure for legislation made under this Act was for MAFF to send the Welsh Office a copy of the submission going to their own Minister about the draft Order (or Regulations). ¹ The Head of the relevant Division within the Welsh Office would then put forward a parallel submission to the Welsh Secretary of State, commenting on Welsh aspects or any implications for Wales and, where appropriate, seeking approval for the Order. ² The submission would normally be copied to various other parts and levels of the Office, including, exceptionally in the case of BSE, the Grade 2 or the Permanent Secretary, depending on its importance. ³