Ethics and Welfare Advisory Panel
Ethics and Welfare Advisory Panel (EWAP) plays a key role in the development of BVA policy across a wide range of animal health and welfare, public health, and veterinary professional issues, by providing ethical and welfare advice. EWAP works closely with BVA Officers and the BVA team to:
- Advise Policy Committee and working groups on ethical and welfare issues relating to policy development.
- Review draft policies to ensure appropriate consideration of ethical issues, first and foremost in relation to animal welfare.
- Review draft policies to ensure justifiable conclusions based on the available scientific evidence and ethical analysis.
- Horizon scan for the hot topics for consideration by Policy Committee.
EWAP activity
EWAP is currently:
- advising on identified priority animal welfare problems, including the use of animals in performance sport and farrowing crates for pigs.
- advising on the ethical and welfare considerations for two working groups, one on gene-editing and one on diet and nutrition for dogs and cats.
- advising on the ethical and welfare considerations associated with fast growing broilers and cages for laying hens.
EWAP has recently:
- supported the development of the updated BVA Animal Welfare Strategy.
- advised on the development of our positions on canine breeding services, and Brucella canis.
- advised on our updated position on breeding for health and temperament in the context of breed specific legislation and extreme breeding for aggression.
EWAP members
EWAP is currently chaired by Maddy Campbell, and is currently composed of eight members, including:
- Five vet members
- One vet nurse member
- Two non-vet members
To bolster the capacity of the panel we are creating three brand new vacancies for vet members, taking the total membership to eleven from September 2024.