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UK will adopt EU animal welfare standards post-Brexit, Defra minister
“We will remain global leaders in environmental protection and animal welfare standards" - Lod Gardiner.

NPA says announcement has ‘significant’ implications for the pig sector

The UK will adopt all EU food safety, environmental and animal welfare standards after Brexit, Defra minister Lord Gardiner has said.

According to Farming UK, Lord Gardiner made the announcement during a House of Lords session on Wednesday (4 September).

Lord Gardiner stated: “We will remain global leaders in environmental protection and animal welfare standards, maintaining our high-quality produce for British consumers.

“The Withdrawal Act will transfer on to the UK statute book all EU food safety, environmental and animal welfare standards. Our current high standards, including import requirements, will apply when we leave.”

UK farming leaders have been lobbying the government to provide reassurance that British food production and animal welfare standards will be upheld after the UK leaves the EU.

Responding to Lord Gardiner’s comments, National Pig Association (NNPA) senior policy Ed Barker said the announcement has significant implications for the pig sector.

“This would confirm that a non-EU pork exporter to the UK would have to adhere to EU's rules on demonstrating 'ractopamine free' pork exports,” he said.

Ractopamine is a beta-agonist, which promotes leanness in animals raised for meat, and is banned by many countries, including China.

“Today’s announcement means that in order to export to the UK they [the US] will have to continue this. But this is not without risk…” he continued.

“The UK Government's tariffs in the event of a no-deal treats all countries the same (approximately five per cent tariffs on pork imports), meaning US exporters have massive competitive advantage (the US have a cost of production 30-40 per cent lower than EU's).

“They are likely to be able to absorb the costs of testing for ractopamine and add shipping, and still make a healthy profit at the expense of EU and UK producers - who are banned from doing a number of practices still permitted in the US.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.