The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has called on the Labour Government to prioritise reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to ensure it aligns with modern veterinary practices and supports the government’s animal welfare and sustainability goals.
As the Labour Party forms the new UK Government, the BVA has expressed support for its commitments to uphold high standards of animal welfare in international trade deals, negotiate a veterinary agreement with the EU to reduce border checks, and promote environmental sustainability. However, the BVA emphasises that these goals require a modern veterinary profession, which necessitates urgent updates to the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act.
Call for Legislative Reform
BVA President Anna Judson highlighted the importance of modernising the Veterinary Surgeons Act, stating:
“The new Government faces many pressing issues as it takes the keys to Number 10 and whilst we look forward to seeing more detail around its manifesto commitments in relation to animal welfare standards and cooperation with the EU, the veterinary profession is critical to delivering many of these promises and therefore it’s essential the new government quickly turns its attention to reforming the woefully outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act, or risk falling at the first hurdle.”
Additional Legislative Priorities
In addition to reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act, the BVA’s manifesto for animals, vets, and public health calls on the new government to address several key areas:
- Overhaul the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
- Resolve outstanding animal welfare concerns from the abandoned Kept Animals Bill
- Secure permanent access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland, which remains at risk due to Brexit
Stricter Pet Import Measures
Dr Judson further urged the government to advance legislation that was part of the abandoned Kept Animals Bill, including stricter pet import measures and mandatory pre-import testing to prevent the spread of infections like Brucella canis. She stated:
“In its manifesto, the new government has committed to action on several key animal welfare issues which is good news and the British Veterinary Association stands ready to work with officials to get the detail right. Alongside these, we also urge the government to press ahead with legislation which would have been delivered as part of the abandoned Kept Animals Bill like stricter pet import measures, including mandatory pre-import testing to minimise the spread of infections like Brucella canis.”
The BVA stresses that updating the Veterinary Surgeons Act is crucial for the UK to maintain a modern veterinary profession capable of supporting the Labour Government’s animal welfare and sustainability objectives. With these reforms, the BVA believes that the veterinary profession will be better equipped to address current and future challenges, ultimately benefiting animals, veterinarians, and the public.
