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Homeopathy supporters to march on RCVS
A petition calling for the RCVS to retract its statement on homeopathy has garnered support from more than 13,000 people.

Vets and pet owners to deliver petition in protest of new position statement

Homeopathy supporters will be marching to the RCVS headquarters on Monday (15 January) to deliver a petition in protest to the College’s new position statement on complementary therapies.

The march has been organised by the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons (BAHVC), which has been campaigning for the College to retract its statement on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This includes homeopathy, which it says is a de facto ban.

Vets, animal lovers and their pets are planning to meet outside the Houses of Parliament and will then march towards the RCVS headquarters in Horseferry Road.

In November 2017, the RCVS updated its position statement on homeopathy to say that complementary and alternative therapies must not delay or replace treatments that are based on sound scientific evidence. The statement read:

‘Homeopathy exists without a recognised body of evidence for its use. Furthermore, it is not based on sound scientific principles…it is vital to protect the welfare of animals committed to the care of the veterinary profession and the public’s confidence in the profession that any treatments not underpinned by a recognised evidence base or sound scientific principles do not delay or replace those that do.’

A petition calling for the RCVS to retract its statement has garnered support from more than 13,000 people.

BAHVS President Chris Day said: “This is an attack on freedom of choice for clients and on clinical freedom of vets. It has been imposed without consultation with clients or any of the vets who use these treatments.

“We are deeply disappointed that the RCVS would seek to undermine its own members whose independence and livelihoods are at stake.”

The RCVS stressed that it has not banned veterinary homeopathy and neither does its position statement suggest that it has. ‘We expect treatments like homeopathy, which are not underpinned by a recognised evidence base or sound scientific principles, to be offered alongside, or complementary to, those treatments that are,’ it said. 

Image (C) RCVS

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
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Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.