The Welsh Government has set out plans for a streamlined Animal Health Improvement Cycle (AHIC) under the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

 

Under new plans, from 2027, farmers committed to the AHIC and farm assurance scheme would require only one visit from a veterinary surgeon to comply with requirements. BVA has approved with this change and stated that, done properly, this could have benefits for veterinary surgeons and farmers.

 

However, BVA warns that the newly announced transition will negatively impact the veterinary profession in Wales.

 

As a result of the changed transition arrangements, farms which are registered with a qualified farm assurance scheme will still be eligible for SFS funding in 2026 without undertaking an AHIC veterinary visit. 

 

BVA has described this change as ‘disappointing’ for veterinary professionals and businesses which undertook training and preparation for these visits during winter and spring. It says practices will have prepared for the impact of the AHIC, including additional investments and increasing capacity.

 

The organisation also suggested that the transition could undermine the long term goals of the AHIC, warning any attempt to streamline the AHIC and Farm Assurance scheme should not come at the expense of animal health and welfare in Wales.

 

Phoebe McCarter, BVA Welsh Branch president, said: “We support plans to streamline Animal Health Improvement Cycle (AHIC) veterinary checks for farmers who are a part of farm assurance schemes to avoid any duplication of effort, where relevant, for both farmers and vets. However, these last-minute changes to transition arrangements will likely have unintended consequences to the sustainability of veterinary practices in Wales in the short term, and risk undermining animal health and welfare, a core pillar of the scheme.  

 

“Many practices have invested in their business for 2026 based on expected AHIC work and the published requirements of the scheme. We know that some practices have hired new team members to cope with capacity and all have spent time and money training their vets to complete the AHIC.

 

“It’s concerning that the goalposts have now been moved without consulting the profession. We’d like to see a commitment from the Welsh Government that there will be no further changes without consultation with the veterinary profession.”