This change, announced at the Royal Welsh Show, is being taken forward as an early recommendation arising from the Government’s review into the bureaucratic burden on family farms led by Brecon farmer and former NFU Cymru President John Davies.
Welsh Government has stated that it will work with any interested farm assurance schemes to ensure that requirements are aligned. This would mean farmers within those schemes will only need to complete one form from 2027.
Welsh Government has said this will deliver two outcomes from a single vet visit: farm assurance and SFS compliance. Recognising that 2026 is a transition year, Welsh Government have said that compliance with farm assurance schemes that have committed to align by 2027 will be accepted as meeting the AHIC requirements in 2026.
So, what does this mean in practice?
In early August Welsh Government provided further clarity on this simplification, in summary.
Farmers who are members of an accredited farm assurance scheme that commits to integrating the AHIC from 2027 will not need to complete separate AHIC ‘Measure’ and ‘Plan’ requirements for 2026. Their existing farm assurance health and welfare plan requirements will be accepted as meeting this requirement.
If a farmer has incurred costs in relation to the AHIC already but would have met the new requirements without incurring those costs, they can contact RPW via the online enquiry form and provide details of the costs incurred to see if they are entitled to compensation. Each case will be considered independently.
If a farmer is not a member of a farm assurance scheme, they will be unaffected by this change in approach, and their current AHIC requirements will still need to be met.
For the 2026 scheme year, all farmers will be required to undertake the Biosecurity Assessment for Incoming Stock (BAIS) in accordance with the SFS Scheme Guidance. However, from 2027 Welsh Government intends to recognise this requirement as fulfilled for SFS participants whose farm assurance schemes commit to integrate the BAIS and AHIC into their health and welfare plans.
Farmers who have obtained a Veterinary Attestation Number (VAN) but are not members of a recognised farm assurance scheme will still be required to complete all elements of UA12 if they have joined the SFS. A VAN is not a farm assurance scheme and will not be recognised as meeting AHIC or other UA12 requirements.
Welcome news
It is welcome news that the requirements for an AHIC and BAIS in universal action 12 of the SFS will be aligned with the requirements that already exist within farm assurance on animal health and welfare.
We have always believed that supporting continuous improvement in animal health and welfare should be a central part of the SFS. Welsh farmers are proud of their high standards, ensuring our flocks and herds are healthy and well looked after is fundamental to the success of Welsh farming.
This announcement from the Cabinet Secretary removes the duplication that existed between SFS and farm assurance, ensuring that the good work farmers and vets are already doing and evidencing across the country on animal health and welfare is recognised.
This was a key issue that our members have been raising with us and was identified by many as a potential deterrent to joining SFS, so we are pleased that Welsh Government has listened to our concerns and streamlined this requirement.
More information available on the Welsh Government website