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Posted: 15th May 2014

Impact of Scottish independence questioned
Robin Hargreaves
BVA president Robin Hargreaves questioned the impact of independence on veterinary regulation.
BVA president poses questions on potential effects on the profession

Speaking at the BVA's annual Scottish dinner, president Robin Hargreaves questioned the impact that independence will have on the veterinary profession.

Mr Hargreaves explained that as a non-partisan organisation, the BVA had not taken a stance on independence, but has seen "a degree of frustration" among its members who are seeking "clearer answers about the future regulation of our profession in an independent Scotland."

Guests at the event included MSPs, MEPs, senior members of the veterinary profession and representatives of animal health and welfare organisations and the agri-food industry.

As well as the impact on veterinary regulation, the president questioned the effect independence will have on veterinary surveillance, funding for places at Scotland's two veterinary schools and funding for its network of world-class research institutes.

Commenting on surveillance, Mr Hargreaves said: "It must be recognised that Great Britain is a single epidemiological unit and disease knows no political boundaries."

The detection of certain diseases in recent years - such as Schmallenberg virus, bleeding calf syndrome and psoroptic mange - serve as "stark and timely reminders that we reduce our surveillance capacity at our peril."

During the event Mr Hargreaves took the opportunity to promote the organisation's recent e-petition calling for an end to non-stun slaughter.

He said: "We understand that very little non-stun slaughter takes place in Scotland – a small amount of non-stun poultry slaughter – but we don’t know how much non-stun slaughter produce is on Scottish supermarket shelves or sold in food outlets.
 
“Two weeks ago we launched our e-petition calling for an end to non-stun slaughter and, at the very least, a debate about ways to reduce the harm caused by non-stun slaughter."

Finally, the president welcomed the environment minister's recent comments recognising that widespread muzzling of dogs is not necessarily a proportionate step.

"We have expressed serious reservations that compulsory muzzling of dogs would have a hugely detrimental effect on the animal’s ability to exhibit normal behaviour," he explained.

A number of other topics were discussed during the speech, including 24/7 emergency veterinary cover, horse passports, exotic pets, pet vending and tail docking of puppies.

The BVA's e-petition on non-stun slaughter has so far reached more than 56,000 signatures.
 



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