BVA seeks urgent meeting on Welsh Animal Health Scheme
The new announcement has led to farmers cancelling AHIC visits.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has written to the Welsh Government to call for an urgent meeting regarding changes to its Animal Health Improvement Cycle (AHIC).
It comes after the government announced changes in its transition plan on 20 July 2026. Through 2026, farmers could remain eligible for Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) funding without undergoing an AHIC inspection.
After this transition, in 2027, farmers will require only one veterinary visit to comply with AHIC and SFS requirements.
While BVA has called the ultimate result of the plan ‘a positive development’, it criticised what it has described as ‘last minute changes’ to the AHIC transition process throughout 2026.
The group says this significantly impacts the sustainability of rural veterinary practices in Wales, which had invested in business changes to support the anticipated AHIC workload. It also says it risks ‘seriously undermining’ the Scheme’s animal health and welfare objectives.
BVA president Rob Williams and BVA Welsh branch president Phoebe McCarter have now penned a letter to Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd MS on behalf of its members.
In the letter, Dr Williams and Ms McCarter have called for greater transparency on the evidence behind the changes. They have also requested a meeting to discuss how changes might impact veterinary practices.
They write: “Practices have already seen scheduled AHIC visits cancelled and are concerned that future work will be considered as an additional expense. BVA has previously warned Welsh Government that the payment arrangements could create this type of situation. Veterinary practices should not carry the financial consequences of Government policy decisions.”
The BVA has also sought reassurance that the new transition plans will not come at the expense of animal health and welfare in Wales.
A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: “We remain committed to improving animal health and welfare through the Animal Health Improvement Cycle (AHIC).
“The recent changes are intended to reduce duplication and bureaucracy for farmers and vets, not to dilute AHIC requirements or diminish the role of veterinary professionals.
“Veterinary expertise remains central to the delivery of improved animal health and welfare outcomes in Wales and we will continue to work closely with the veterinary profession, farm assurance schemes and farmers as arrangements for 2026 and 2027 are developed.”
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