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Bristol Vet School hosts Official Veterinarian Course
The OV course enables students to join the NOV programme to work with the FSA.
The course was designed as a 10-day EMS placement.

Bristol Veterinary School is marking the success of its dedicated Official Veterinarian (OV) Course for final year students.

The course, delivered by the Veterinary Public Health (VPH) team, welcomed final year veterinary students for a 10-day Extra Mural Studies (EMS) placement.

Students from veterinary schools across the country took part, with a total of 51 enrolling in the course. This is a national first for a student-only OV course on that scale.

The OV course is designed to teach a wide curriculum in a short period, including technical scenarios and formal assessments.

Through the completion of the course, students receive the necessary qualifications to enter the National Official Veterinarian (NOV) programme. It is through completion of this programme that they will be able to work on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Official Veterinarians are considered by the European Federation of Veterinarians to be an ‘essential public good’, involved with the safeguarding of animal welfare during transportation and on farms.

The course explored the broader career opportunities qualified OVs would have available to them, including the transferable skills such as legislation, ethical-reasoning and problem-solving. Students also received individual career advice and networked with key industry stakeholders.

The programme featured a number of guest speakers, including Natalie Sampson, deputy chief veterinary officer for the Welsh government, and Enrique Vega, the interim head of veterinary advisory services for the FSA.

Speaking about why they chose the course, a student said: “I am hoping to work in mixed practice in the future and didn’t have a farm animal background before vet school, which made me feel inadequate for the role.

“Therefore, the opportunity to receive the certification was inviting. While doing the course, I realised I found animal welfare very interesting and want to pursue it in the future!”

Image © Shutterstock

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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.