Maintaining and enhancing a positive image of the veterinary profession is a key objective of the BVA’s lobbying process.
Who is involved
A network of parliamentary Honorary Associates and Honorary Members help BVA to make the veterinary voice heard. The appointment in 2007 of a record number of new Honorary Associates, including MEPs, will help to ensure that BVA can continue to promote and protect the profession.
BVA Officers in particular have been tirelessly networking to build a strong platform from which to speak. They are in regular contact with colleagues worldwide and in attendance at regional, European and world-wide meetings, UK stakeholders’ meetings and government working parties as well as providing ongoing comment for parliamentary enquiries and the specialist and national media.
The BVA is particularly appreciative of its Divisions active support for the BVA’s efforts, and for their growing impact on their specialist or local interests.
By virtue of the BVA’s membership of the Dogs Legislation Advisory Group and Pet Advisory Committee BVA is involved in a number of lobbying activities including legislation to replace the current Dangerous Dogs Act.
Members can see the parliamentary discussions on tail docking for England and Scotland 
(March 2007) and more information on the docking of puppies tails.
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When lobbying the profession needs to speak with one voice and through the BVA it does. |
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Briefings to parliamentarians
As a means of keeping in regular contact with BVA Parliamentary Honorary Associates, including Members of the House of Lords, MPs, MEPs, MSPs and Scottish Branch Honorary Associates MSPs they are sent an electronic copy of the weekly Comment in The Veterinary Record.
BVA Honorary Associate MEPs are treated the same as all other Honorary Associates but are also, of course, lobbied via and by FVE direct. Our main thrust over the past year with MEPs and the wider European Parliament and Commission was lobbying for the ban on the wild caught bird trade.
In addition to briefings - via telephone, email or face to face meetings - on matters of concern Honorary Associates are also:
- copied in on all BVA press releases, including those issued on behalf of BVA AWF and BVA divisions
- copied in on all updated Policy Briefs
- copied in on BVA responses to consultations , letters to Ministers and submissions to Inquiries
- alerted to items of interest appearing in The Veterinary Record.
BVA lobbying events
All London based Honorary Associates are also invited to the annual Honorary Associates dinner, the annual BVA and BVA AWF parliamentary receptions and to the BVA Christmas Cocktail Party.
Our major lobbying platform with the devolved administrations continues to be the highly successful BVA dinners in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. We normally endeavour to tie in with these meetings with relevant Ministers and other key stakeholders e.g. the CVOs.