Presidential Address BVA Congress, 29 September 2007

The ever increasing profile and importance of animal welfare issues has been at the forefront of activity over the last year. After a BVA Council decision to support a policy to permanently ban the importation of captive wild-caught birds, the FVE then adopted our position which culminated in the European Commission introducing regulation to permanently ban the trade. A demonstration of the impact that clear and focussed veterinary opinion can make.

The introduction of a new Animal Welfare Act in GB marked a significant landmark in the history of animal protection. We have heard this morning of the key role that vets will and must play in advancing the intentions of the Act. BVA is determined to ensure the veterinary profession’s view on animal welfare matters is heard loud and clear. The BVA Animal Welfare Foundation raises issues for potential policy development through their successful Discussion Forum and this year’s inaugural meetings of the BVA Ethics and Welfare Group gives the BVA another platform to clarify and air our views,

Legislation is now a significant part of veterinary life. We seem to be perennially affected by new government regulation. One example is the Veterinary Medicines Directorate who continue to annually update the veterinary medicines regulations, with current consultation on the reclassification of medicines distribution categories. In reality this seems to mean that more and more veterinary medicines may be prescribed without the need for the advice of a veterinary surgeon. It is questionable whether the European Commission envisaged such loose interpretation of its Directive, particularly in relation to prescription of medicines in food producing animals. BVA Medicines Group works hard on these issues and has an ongoing significant workload. The registration of veterinary premises will be the next cost to veterinary businesses and sadly another government regulation that is likely to add a little more to the veterinary bills of animal owners in the UK.