World Veterinary Association (WVA)
The World Veterinary Association (WVA), under the presidency of Professor Leon Russell (USA), is committed to unifying the veterinary profession worldwide. Established in 1863, it has members in nearly 100 countries. The WVA has cooperative contacts with international organisations such as the International Office of Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, the Codex Alimentarius and the World Health Organization. It works closely with these organisations to protect and improve animal welfare, animal and human health and the environment. The Association is dedicated to setting the highest possible standards for education, ethics and excellence in performance of all aspects of the veterinary profession. It works to attract and retain national, regional and specialist veterinary associations, set up common guidelines, standards, policies and programmes for global use by the veterinary profession.
The association promoted the first World Veterinary Day in April 2001 and continues to advance the role of the veterinarian in food security and food safety, animal welfare, and the management of disasters and emergencies.
Mr Bob Stevenson MRCVS is the BVA's representative on WVA and was recently elected as a WVA Regional Councillor for Western Europe.
Link to WVA website: www.worldvet.org