Speaking at the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) annual Westminster Dinner, addressing members of the veterinary profession, MPs and peers – including Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs – BVA president Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux welcomed the Government’s ongoing engagement with the profession over the urgent need to reform the ‘outdated’ Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
She also called for regulation of practices, recognition of allied professionals and legal protection for the veterinary nurse title.
Dr Mullineaux outlined the limitations of existing legislation, which fails to regulate veterinary practices, and as a result means ‘individual vets and nurses are held accountable for business decisions which are often outside their control but can directly impact animal health and welfare’.
She also highlighted BVA’s work on behalf of the profession to ensure the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is fully across the need for legislative reform as it continues its investigation into vet services for household pets.
In its recently published working papers, CMA acknowledged the changes the industry has undergone in the past 60 years and set out the challenges resulting from the absence of practice regulation.
Dr Mullineaux said: “We are pleased that the CMA has listened to the profession,” she then went on to urge guests to support the development of a new Act.
Speaking on behalf of the Government, guest Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, said: “I think each BVA dinner I’ve been to, the Veterinary Surgeons Act has come up; we absolutely understand it.
“We’re engaging with you and with the other stakeholders from the RCVS, the BVNA, the Vet Schools Council, to look at how we can go about reforming the VSA and that core working group is looking at how changes to policy can support the profession, animals and consumer in a future facing and future proof way.”
Ensuring animal health and welfare remains high on BVA’s agenda and in her speech Dr Mullineaux acknowledged that the Government is honouring commitments from the previous government to deal with the issues outlined in abandoned Kept Animal Bill as independent pieces of legislation.
She specifically highlighted the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill which will restrict the importation and non-commercial movement of these animals, including both a ban on the import of dogs with cropped ears, and the introduction of appropriate pre-import testing.
Dr Mullineaux said: “This legislation would help us tackle infections like Brucella canis, which can be transmitted to humans, although are not currently endemic in the UK.
“We have worked with our colleague Danny Chambers, veterinary surgeon and MP, who introduced this Bill with the support of Neil Hudson MP, another veterinary colleague. We would urge other MPs and Lords to support this Bill as it goes through both Houses.”
Dr Mullineaux also acknowledged ‘positive development’ in the delivery of the Government’s election manifesto commitment to negotiate a veterinary agreement with the EU.
“We welcomed this commitment and have already increased our engagement efforts with not only the UK Government but also with the European Union and other stakeholders to ensure that the negotiation of such an agreement is prioritised and that the veterinary voice is considered when the agreement is further developed,” she said.
“Since Brexit, BVA has consistently advocated for measures that support the veterinary workforce while safeguarding animal health and welfare. A veterinary agreement would also help to solve the issue of access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland post December 2025, however, given the short timescales we continue to engage with the Government and key stakeholders separately on this matter to find a solution outside of a veterinary agreement.”
