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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 20th February 2018
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‘Critical’ role of vets recognised in Brexit report
“It is reassuring to see that animal welfare is high on the agenda for future negotiations around trade in food."
BVA welcomes recommendations from Efra Committee 

MPs are calling on the government to support the veterinary workforce, so it can meet the needs of the UK’s food industry after Brexit.

The recommendation came in a new report, ‘Brexit: Trade in Food’, which was published by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee.

Authors of the report said non-British EU veterinary surgeons are ‘critical’ to the UK’s veterinary workforce. They urged the government to set out how it will ensure working rights for these vets currently in the UK, and how it will support the veterinary workforce going forward.

MPs also said the UK’s high animal welfare, environmental and food standards must not be ‘sacrificed on the altar of cheap imports’. The committee said it would hold environment secretary Michael Gove to his assurances that these standards will not be compromised.

Commenting on the report, BVA president John Fishwick said: “We welcome the strong message this report conveys on the need to maintain the UK’s high animal welfare, environmental and food standards in trade as we leave the EU.

“It is reassuring to see that animal welfare is high on the agenda for future negotiations around trade in food and that the vital role of vets in upholding these standards is fully recognised by the EFRA Committee.”

The report also calls for better country of origin labelling and mandatory method of production labelling when we leave the EU. Mr Fishwick said the BVA hopes this will include clear labelling on the method of slaughter so consumers can make an informed choice about eating meat from stunned or non-stunned animals.

He added: “We look forward to seeing how these recommendations are taken forward by the Government to ensure that the veterinary workforce is fully supported and the UK has the capacity to meet the challenges that Brexit may pose in trade in food.”

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Dechra launches checklist for veterinary sustainability

Global animal health specialist Dechra has announced the world's first Veterinary Green Theatre Checklist (VGTC) to help make surgery more sustainable.

Endorsed by leading veterinary organisations, including the BEVA, BVNA and RCVS Knowledge, the checklist is designed to reduce the environmental footprint of veterinary care, while supporting better animal health outcomes.

The checklist was launched at the World Congress of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in Paris and will be followed by an internal training and awareness campaign. For more information, visit dechra.com