Formed 2014 (2014) Headquarters Weybridge, Surrey | Jurisdiction United Kingdom Employees 2,300 | |
Preceding Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Agency executive Chris Hadkiss, Chief Executive | ||
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), formerly known as the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
It was formed in its current state on 1 October 2014, when AHVLA was expanded by adding parts of the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA). AHVLA had originally been established on 1 April 2011 by a merger of two former agencies, Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.
The agency's main task is to protect the health and welfare of animals, as well as the general public, from disease. It conducts work across Great Britain on behalf of DEFRA, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.
References
Animal and Plant Health Agency Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA