At its meeting on 18 May 2022, the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee considered the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2022.

The policy note states the purpose of the instrument is to amend and repeal primary legislation and to amend and revoke secondary legislation. The amendments, repeals and revocations are consequential to the purposes of, or in connection with, the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

The policy note goes on to state these amendments are consequential to the coming into effect of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (Commencement No. 3 and Saving Provisions) Order 2020 and the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. The instrument is intended to deliver a number of consequential amendments to remove references to repealed or revoked enactments in certain provisions on the statute book and, where appropriate, insert equivalent references to provisions included in the 2021 Regulations.

The Scottish Government states the instrument only introduces amendments to reflect changes in statute and does not introduce new policy or create new obligations for the Scottish Ministers.

The instrument is due to come into force on 8 June 2022.

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the instrument at its meeting on 26 April 2022 and agreed that no points arose.

At its meeting on 18 May 2022, the Committee held an evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, accompanied by Scottish Government officials.

After the evidence session, the Cabinet Secretary moved motion S6M-04393--

That the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee recommends that the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2022 be approved.

The motion was agreed to without division.

The official report of the meeting can be accessed on the Scottish Parliament's website.