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Strident BVA tells DEFRA to abandon separation of animal health from animal welfare
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has called on DEFRA to abandon its plans for a new animal health body that will give responsibility for animal health to an independent board and leave responsibility for animal welfare with ministers.
The BVA has also expressed deep concerns over the confusion caused by the new structure that could lead to delays in dealing with outbreaks of disease across the UK, and in its response to the DEFRA consultation on responsibility and cost sharing, which closed on 30 June, the association has highlighted a number of points.
The welfare of animals is inextricably linked to their health and the BVA does not support DEFRA's proposal to separate the two. Any new body responsible for animal health must also be responsible for animal welfare.
The lack of clarity in the proposals over the roles of the Chief Veterinary Officers, the Board, and Ministers may compromise the UK's ability to respond effectively to major outbreaks of notifiable disease, such as BSE, bluetongue, avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease. Anything that causes confusion in decision-making could have disastrous consequences for the farming and the rural economy.
The implications of the new body for species including horses, companion animals and zoos/wildlife establishments are not described or considered. It is essential to ensure they are not overlooked or sidelined in a body with a Board set up around livestock.
The Government must continue to seek to improve animal health and welfare and maintain its financial commitment to disease control. In a new partnership arrangement the costs of diseases control must not simply be transferred to the industry.
Any cost sharing arrangements must also provide industry with an incentive for action to improve their practice and reward those that achieve good animal health and welfare outcomes and penalise those that refuse to adopt industry accepted norms.
The competitiveness of English agriculture could be jeopardised in relation to other EU Member States and other parts of the UK if these proposals are brought in before European-wide proposals are announced in 2011.
Commenting, BVA president Nicky Paull, said: "We're asking DEFRA to go back to the drawing board on responsibility and cost sharing. While we agree with the principle of sharing responsibility for managing disease with industry, we believe this is the wrong way to achieve it.
"Every vet knows that you cannot consider an animal's health or welfare in a bubble - the two are intrinsically connected. Leaving animal welfare issues with ministers who have one eye on the political agenda risks some important issues slipping through the net."
Mrs Paull added: "The BVA is also very concerned that the new structure puts at risk the clear structures and single line of command essential in the event of a major disease outbreak. We know from experience that any delay in communication and decision-making in the face of foot-and-mouth, BSE or avian influenza comes with a hefty price tag.
"Instead of focusing on structures that confuse the process, DEFRA should concentrate on creating a real partnership between government, industry and the veterinary profession."
The DEFRA consultation document, Consultation on a new independent body for animal health: A modern governance and funding structure for tackling animal diseases is available on the DEFRA website.
Published: 01 Jul 2009
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Tags: Associations, Equine, Exotic, Farm animal, News, Small animal
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