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BVA Members to Lobby MPs on OV Issues
Professor Bill Reilly, President of the BVA. (Photos courtesy of the BVA)
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is encouraging members to lobby their MPs following the announcement that some TB testing will be taken off Official Veterinarians (OVs) and carried out by Animal Health (AH).

OVs have received letters from AH this month informing them of the timetable for the retention of some TB tests, in some situations with very short notice.

The BVA and BCVA (British Cattle Veterinary Association) have written jointly to AH Chief Executive Catherine Brown setting out the Associations’ concerns with the speed in which the change is being implemented.

In particular the BVA and BCVA are concerned at the detrimental impact on the TB eradication programme if AH does not have the necessary resources to deliver testing work in-house. The BVA and BCVA have also raised questions over the impact on individual veterinary businesses that may have set up testing dates with farmers and taken on additional staff to undertake the work.

The BVA has produced a lobbying briefing for members who wish to raise the issues with their local MP. By harnessing political support the BVA hopes that parliamentarians and the Government will ensure question AH’s actions and ensure that disease control is not compromised.

Commenting, Professor Bill Reilly, President of the BVA, said: “Animal Health is making decisions that are having an enormous effect on the veterinary profession very quickly and without full consultation.

“We are calling on our members to join our lobbying efforts to ensure that Animal Health’s decisions are being properly scrutinised by both Parliament and the Government.

“The results of getting this wrong will not only affect veterinary practices, but could have grave consequences for disease eradication and control.”

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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...
News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.