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BVA to increase lobbying for Northern Ireland vet medicine deal
(L-R) BVA NI Branch president Sharon Verner, minister of agriculture, environment and rural affairs Andrew Muir, BVA president Elizabeth Mullineaux, and host Declan McAleer MLA.
BVA’s new president makes commitment in speech at Stormont.

British Veterinary Association (BVA) president Elizabeth Mullineaux has said that the organisation will increase its lobbying over the long-term supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland.

An agreement between the UK and the EU needs to be reached to guarantee the supply of veterinary medicines once the current grace period finishes at the end of 2025.

If a deal is not reached, then veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland could lose access to around half of the veterinary medicines they currently receive. Small animal, equine, and farm animal veterinary care would all be affected.

Speaking at the BVA’s annual Northern Ireland dinner, Dr Mullineaux said: “Failure to secure access to these vital veterinary medicines for Northern Ireland could have devastating implications. A new EU veterinary agreement is a chance to protect animal health, human health and food safety, not only in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland but across Europe.

“We will be increasing our lobbying efforts to ensure ministers and officials understand the scale of the issue and prioritise ensuring the supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland is at the forefront of any agreement.”

Elsewhere in her speech at the event in Stormont, Dr Mullineaux spoke about the role the BVA has played in representing and supporting the veterinary profession during the ongoing investigation into the sector by the Competition and Markets Authority and the need for reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

She also paid tribute to former RCVS president Des Thompson, who recently passed away, for his work as an advocate for the veterinary profession, especially in Northern Ireland.

The event was hosted by Declan McAleer, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and included Northern Ireland’s minister of agriculture, environment and rural affairs Andrew Muir among the guests.

Dr Mullineaux’s full speech can be read here.

Image © BVA

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BEVA gives RVNs right to vote

News Story 1
 The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is to allow its registered veterinary nurse (RVN) members the right to vote.

RVN members will now be able to take part in key decision-making processes and stand for BEVA council.

Marie Rippingale, chair of BEVA's Nurse Committee, said: "I am very proud to be a part of BEVA.

"This change will help to empower nurses to speak up and contribute, but more importantly, it will give them an opportunity to collaborate with other members of the equine veterinary profession to bring about change that is positive for all." 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Farmer survey to reveal on-farm impact of bluetongue

A nationwide survey has been launched to better understand how the bluetongue virus is affecting UK farms.

Results will inform the support that farmers receive for bluetongue, as well as preparing the livestock industry for the future.

The short online survey is open to all livestock farmers, regardless of whether they've had a confirmed case of bluetongue on their farm. It asks how many animals have been affected, the severity of their clinical signs and how it has impacted farm business.

The survey takes five minutes to complete and is fully anonymous.

It is led by Fiona Lovatt, of Flock Health Limited, and the Ruminant Health & Welfare bluetongue working group, in collaboration with AHDB and the University of Nottingham.

Dr Lovatt says: "We need to find out what level of clinical signs farmers are seeing in their animals, whether they are experiencing mortality with BTV-3 cases, and what their appetite is to vaccinate in future for bluetongue serotype 3."

The survey can be found here.