Vet industry responds to UK-EU summit commitments
The BVA says the new measures will reduce the burden on the veterinary workforce.
Veterinary organisations are responding to commitments made recently during a UK-EU summit in London.
On 19 May 2025, UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer met with president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to finalise agreements as part of a post-Brexit relationship.
Alongside various commitments relating to trade and security, the UK-EU summit also addressed a number of deals directly affecting the veterinary and pet care industries.
New measures in the agreement will see more targeted checks on the movement of animals, animal products, plants and other products. This is expected to stop animals being held at borders for prolonged periods, reducing the impact on animal health and welfare.
It also includes a commitment to shared disease surveillance and data sharing. It is hoped that this will secure the UK's biosecurity, reducing the risk of imported diseases causing outbreaks.
Finally, the UK government has agreed that Animal Health Certificates (AHCs) will be replaced by pet passports.
The agreement has largely been welcomed the British Veterinary Association (BVA), which had outlined the need for an EU-UK agreement in its policy position.
The BVA says the new agreements will ease trade, while ensuring animal welfare and UK biosecurity. It says they will also be beneficial for the veterinary profession, reducing burdens on the veterinary workforce.
The organisations says pet passports will provide additional benefits for pet owners, after AHCs hit animal owners with increased costs.
Pet passports have also been welcomed by The Kennel Club, which has called the previous AHCs 'costly and burdensome'. Ed Hayes, head of public affairs, called the move 'a very positive step', thanking MPs for keeping pet travel on the agenda.
However, the BVA has expressed its concern that Northern Ireland's veterinary medicines access was not agreed during the summit. It says this is becoming increasingly urgent, with the post-Brexit grace period extension ending later this year.
BVA president Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “Today’s announcements coming out of the EU-UK summit are good news, striking the right balance between reducing trade friction whilst maintaining the UK’s high standards of animal welfare and disease control.
“However, with no clear direction on the issue of access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland, which has serious implications not only for animal health and welfare, but also public health, there is still work to do.
“A permanent resolution to this long-standing question is urgently needed and we will continue to press the government for solutions to avoid potentially devastating consequences.”
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Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
