The Countryside Action Network and the animal owners who have put their names to this petition strongly oppose the Animal Health Bill, which provides additional powers to Ministers to order the slaughter of animals and to allow Ministers to add to the schedule of diseases for which compulsory slaughter of animals can be ordered.

In light of the very unpleasant experiences inflicted upon farmers and smallholders during the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak, which resulted in millions of healthy animals being slaughtered, and thousands being slaughtered 'by mistake', we believe that giving additional powers to Ministers, without reference to Parliament, is not warranted.