The BVA has called on new environment secretary Theresa Villiers to focus on securing new legislation on animal sentience before the UK leaves the EU, and putting plans in place to ensure a strong veterinary workforce to support trade.
The association has welcomed Ms Villiers’ appointment, and is seeking an early meeting to brief her on some of the most pressing animal health and welfare and public issues she needs to tackle.
Animal sentience
On animal sentience, the BVA said it will be pressing for urgent action to secure this important principle into UK legislation.
Former environment secretary Michael Gove had pledged to introduce a new law before the UK left the EU, but failed to take his draft legislation through Parliament.
On workforce issues, the BVA said it is keen to continue the close working with Defra and the RCVS to ensure the UK has the veterinary workforce it needs to secure animal health and welfare, and meet the significant increase in veterinary certification for international trade.
Cross-sector
The BVA will also be seeking Government action to improve welfare at slaughter – including a commitment to ban the export of meat and produce from non-stun slaughter – to secure tighter controls on the movement of pet animals, and to continue cross-sector efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance and support sustainable animal agriculture.
BVA president Simon Doherty said: “We welcome the appointment of Theresa Villiers and look forward to an early meeting to discuss the urgent issues of animal sentience, veterinary workforce, and the impact of no-deal on the animal health and welfare sector.”
Key stakeholders
In her first statement as environment secretary, Ms Villiers said: “In the coming weeks I look forward to meeting key stakeholders in the food, farming, fishing and environmental sectors.
“By working together we can deliver the Government’s historic commitment to leave the environment in a better state than we found it and to seize the opportunities offered by Brexit.”
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