LOGIN
Our lobbying activity
To ensure the veterinary voice is heard around the UK, we provide briefings and information to parliamentarians and ministers in Westminster, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We work closely with our honorary associate member MPs, Peers, MSPs, MSs and MLAs. We also work with the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) to lobby the European Commission and Parliament.
To read our latest updates for each country, select the relevant section below.
UK / Westminster
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
UK / Westminster
Supporting Reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act
BVA London Dinner 2026
Influencing the EU-UK veterinary agreement
Lobbying for Animal Welfare legislation
-
Animal Welfare Strategy: In December 2025, UK Government announced its Animal Welfare Strategywhich BVA largely welcomed. The Strategy outlines new plans to protect pets, farmed animals and wildlife across the country and includes several measures that BVA has been actively campaigning for on behalf of our members. These include an end to puppy farming; promotion of responsible dog ownership to protect public safety; a potential ban of the use of electric shock collars; banning snare traps which cause suffering to animals; and phasing out confinement systems for farmed animals such as pig farrowing crates. Animal Welfare is amongst the top priorities for BVA members, and the organisation has secured many significant improvements to animal welfare as a result of sustained policymaking and campaigning. In April 2025, nine years since the publication of its landmark Animal Welfare Strategy, BVA published a new report outlining its achievements since 2016, alongside a new set of priorities - ‘BVA Animal Welfare Strategy - Evaluation and Next Steps’.
-
Ongoing consultations: We are responding to ongoing consultations on the potential proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages, and changes to castration and tail docking methods for lambs.
-
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act: We hailed the passage of the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill into law in December last year as a huge win for animal welfare, as well as public health. Introduced as a Private Members’ Bill by vet and MP Danny Chambers with support from BVA, this legislation will introduce crucial measures to clamp down on puppy smuggling and ban the import of dogs and cats with illegal mutilations like cropped ears or declawing. It will also better protect public health by reducing the risk of diseases such as rabies and Brucella canis from being imported into the country, by increasing the minimum age that puppies can enter the UK and preventing heavily pregnant dogs from being brought in.
-
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act: We supported the passage of this Bill as it attained Royal Ascent in December last year. The Act will better protect the welfare of farmed animals. It includes vital updates to the existing legislation such as clarity on what constitutes ‘worrying’, and the expansion of police powers and sanctions against irresponsible dog owners.
Scotland
Our manifesto for Scotland’s vets and animals 2026-2031
Ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections we have created our manifesto for Scotland’s vets and animals where we highlight our main asks for Scotland’s political parties across 5 key categories, which are:
- Animal welfare
- Education
- Employment
- Fireworks
- Agriculture
We encourage you to read our manifesto, share it with your networks, and engage your local MSP on it.
Positive steps on firework controls
The introduction of Firework Control Zones across Edinburgh last November was a positive step towards safeguarding the health and welfare of both people and animals. We welcome the announcement that more local authorities will be taking forward zones ahead of Bonfire Night this year. We encourage you to check with your local authority about these zones and call for their effective implementation. BVA will continue lobbying Scottish Government tighter controls on the use of fireworks to better protect the health and welfare of humans and animals.
Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act
The Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act, which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of dogs by encouraging responsible ownership and providing for the registration of unlicensed litters, became law in March. BVA are working with Scottish Government on drafting the Code of Practice.
Scottish Branch meeting with Members of Scottish Parliament
Between January and June of this year we met with 10 MSPs across all political parties, speaking on our manifesto and where we can work together to support vets and animals in Scotland.
Championing vets in Scottish Parliament at BVA’s Annual Scottish Dinner
BVA brought together MSPs, including the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP, policymakers, and key figures in education, farming, and the veterinary profession for our prestigious Scottish Dinner at Holyrood on 30 April 2025. Conversations focused on the crucial role that vets have within Scotland, particularly in the rural sector, and how the veterinary profession can be better supported to deliver for Scotland’s animals and people. Dinner speeches also highlighted the much-needed reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and BVA’s ongoing work to support the profession with the Competition and Markets Authority investigation into UK veterinary services for household pets. It was a popular and well received event with guest feedback highlighting the value of the dinner for bringing opportunities to come together and champion the veterinary profession across Scotland.
BVA Scottish Branch
BVA Scottish Branch exists to represent members in Scotland. It brings together representatives of our specialist and territorial divisions, Government, academic institutions, and research organisations in Scotland.
Wales
Our manifesto for Wales’ animals, vets, and public health 2026-2031
Ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections we have created our manifesto for Wales’ animals, vets, and public health, where we highlight our main asks for Wales’ political parties. Our calls to action cover:
- The Sustainable Farming Scheme
- BTB and disease control
- Responsible use of veterinary medicines
- Animal licensing activities
- Veterinary workforce
We encourage you to read our manifesto, share it with your networks, and engage your local MS on it.
Building relationships and calling for change at BVA’s Welsh dinner
BVA welcomed the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, as guest of honour for the annual Welsh dinner at Cardiff Castle on 24 June 2025. The event was also attended by around 90 guests, including several Members of the Senedd, senior representatives from animal health and welfare organisations, and veterinary professionals, providing many useful opportunities to build relationships and discuss key topics affecting animals and veterinary professionals.
Newly elected Welsh Branch President Phoebe McCarter used her maiden speech to highlight recent wins for animal welfare in Wales, and the importance of improving biosecurity measures in the face of exotic disease. BVA President Elizabeth Mullineaux spoke about the importance of a modern regulatory framework to enable Welsh vets to continue being at “the forefront of delivering high-quality animal health and welfare services across a diverse landscape, from urban practices in Cardiff and Swansea to large-animal and mixed practices serving rural communities in regions like Powys, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire.”
Phoebe and her fellow BVA Welsh Branch officers also spent the day meeting key stakeholders, including the farming unions, CVO, and Deputy First Minister, to call for a greater focus on animal health and welfare in the sustainable farming scheme, and to discuss measures to improve management of endemic and exotic disease.
Welsh Branch meeting with Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
BVA and Welsh Branch officers met the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies in June 2024 to discuss the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), endemic disease and funding for animal welfare initiatives. The Cabinet Secretary, who is proud to be a BVA Honorary Associate, is keen to work with BVA on many key issues, and was pleased that Welsh Branch President Gwen Rees was representing BVA on his SFS roundtable. He recognised that the veterinary profession had a key role to play in supporting farmers through the transition.
Championing animal health and welfare in sustainable farming
After the Agriculture Act (Wales) came into force in 2023, BVA Welsh Branch has continued to work with Welsh Government and other stakeholders to shape the Sustainable Farming Scheme so that it supports animal health and welfare, and is accessible to all farmers. Welsh Branch President Gwen Rees represents BVA on the roundtable set up by the new Cabinet Secretary, which is seeking to address the concerns of the farming community about the scheme. We have also spoken to the CVO, the Cabinet Secretary, the Shadow Rural Affairs Spokesman and the Farming Unions to raise our concerns with the scheme as currently proposed. We would like to see animal health and welfare centred in the scheme as an integral part of sustainable agriculture. We would also like to see more flexibility in the universal actions, to ensure that as many farmers as possible are able to participate.
BVA Welsh Branch
BVA Welsh Branch exists to represent members in Wales. It brings together representatives of our specialist and territorial divisions, Government, academic institutions, and research organisations in Wales.
Northern Ireland
Our manifesto for Northern Ireland 2022-27
Ahead of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections on 5 May 2022, we launched a manifesto calling on all parties to sign up to key pledges to enhance animal health and welfare, support the veterinary profession, and protect public health in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland dinner
On 22 October 2025, BVA welcomed Minister Andrew Muir, Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, MLAs and stakeholders to the annual Northern Ireland Dinner in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Belfast. Hosted by MLA Michelle McIlveen, the event provided vets, political leaders, industry experts and opinion formers an excellent opportunity to network and engage on the key issues affecting Northern Ireland concerning the veterinary profession, animal health and welfare, and food safety. In his address, BVA President Rob Williams called on the veterinary profession to unite behind reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and reaffirmed BVA’s commitment to continue lobbying the UK Government to secure the supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland. Find out more.
Access to Veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland
There will be changes to the supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2026, following Brexit and in the absence of a veterinary agreement with the EU. We’ve been urging the Government to find a permanent solution to make sure this doesn’t negatively impact animal health and welfare, public health or cross-border trade.
In February 2025, we published our policy position on access to veterinary medicines in NI and convened a parliamentary briefing for MPs and Peers, sponsored by Robin Swann MP, to raise awareness and press for action. In June, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and Defra published guidance on the Veterinary Medicines Health Situation Scheme, which will allow the expedited use of suitable alternative products once the grace period ends. However, there remains a lack of clarity surrounding the scheme and we have concerns whether it will be able to respond effectively during periods of increased demand, such as disease outbreaks.
We have continued to engage closely with policymakers, parliamentarians and regional stakeholders, including:
· Writing jointly with industry partners to Baroness Hayman, Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animals
· Supporting Parliamentary Questions tabled by Northern Ireland MPs
· Giving evidence to the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee
· Briefing a Westminster Hall debate in December
Following sustained engagement by BVA and others, the Government has announced a new VMD-led Supply Coordination Forum to identify and mitigate risks to veterinary medicine supply from January 2026. We intend to engage actively through the forum and continue working with collaboratively with the Government on this issue.
BVA Northern Ireland Branch
If you are a BVA member living in Northern Ireland, you will automatically be a member of BVA Northern Ireland Branch.
BVA manifesto for animals, vets, and public health
We've launched our manifesto calling on government to sign up to key pledges to enhance animal health and welfare, support the veterinary profession, and protect public health.
Engaging with your MPYou can help us advance our policy priorities by contacting or meeting your local MP to let them know why these issues are important to you. We've developed a useful resource to help guide you with the process. |