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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.
We launched manifestos for the Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliamentary election and
Scottish Parliamentary election in May 2021, and for the Northern Ireland Assembly election in May 2022. To read our manifestos select the relevant section below.
UK / Westminster
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
UK / Westminster
Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill
Despite the disappointing news that the Government has decided to scrap the Kept Animals Bill, BVA continues to lobby to ensure that the individual measures contained within the original bill will be taken forward.
Along with BSAVA and BVZS we recently responded to Defra’s consultation on licensing of specialist private primate keepers in England, which relates to one of the measures in the original Bill.
Visit our dedicated Kept Animals Bill webpage for the latest updates.
Kept Animals Bill and other priority issues discussed at Westminster briefing
BVA held a briefing for MPs and Peers on 2 November 2022. The event was hosted by vet Dr Neil Hudson MP. BVA President Malcolm Morley urged for cross-party collaboration to put pressure on the Government to deliver the long overdue Kept Animals Bill; raised concerns over the potential shortage of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland; called for continued support for BVA’s campaign for improved welfare at slaughter, including calls for clear labelling, and for a ban on exports of non-stun meat from the UK; and asked parliamentarians to support BVA in pushing forward plans to reform current veterinary legislation. Read BVA’s news release and Malcolm’s full speech.
BVA President urges politicians to deliver Kept Animals Bill at annual London dinner
BVA welcomed MPs, Peers, and stakeholders to the annual London Dinner held in Westminster on 8 March 2023. BVA President Malcolm Morley urged parliamentarians to do everything they could to progress the Kept Animals Bill; to include veterinary legislative reform in their election manifestos; and to embed the concept of One Health into all policy developments. Defra Minister Lord Benyon spoke as BVA’s guest of honour.
Select Committee evidence sessions
BVA Past President James Russell gave evidence to the ITC on the Australia FTA inquiry on 26 April 2022; and, with Rosie Alister from Vetlife, to the EFRACom inquiry into rural mental health on 26 April 2022. Chair of the BVA Ethics and Welfare Advisory Panel, Dr Madeleine Campbell, gave evidence to the Public Bill Committee: Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill on 30 June 2022. BVA Senior Vice President Justine Shotton gave evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee on pet welfare and abuse on 4 July 2023.
Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill
We worked closely with Baroness Hayman, Baroness Parminter and Lord Trees on an amendment around clause 14 of the Bill, which would ensure a mandatory reporting function. Regrettably, the amendment was blocked by the Government, who stated the need for flexibility within the clause. Although our proposed amendments were unsuccessful, the points made during the Bill’s passage through the House of Lords were noted by the Government. We have received assurance that the reporting function will go ahead and that Defra will engage with BVA on its development.
Science in Parliament
BVA members can read the most recent edition of the journal of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee (All-Party Parliamentary Group) by logging into your journals area.
Scotland
Our manifesto for Scotland 2021-2026
We have launched our manifesto for Scotland calling on candidates for the Scottish Parliament to sign up to 12 key pledges. The manifesto calls for measures to enhance animal health and welfare, support the veterinary profession, and protect public health.
Spread the word and write to your PPCs about these important issues using our template letter.
We’ve analysed the main Scottish political parties’ manifestos to explore what they say about animal health and welfare and identify where their manifesto pledges mirror ours, either fully or partially.
Celebrating the work of veterinary teams across Scotland at annual Scottish dinner
BVA welcomed MSPs and stakeholders to the annual Scottish dinner, hosted by BVA honorary associate Edward Mountain MSP, at the Scottish Parliament on 16 May 2023. BVA President Malcolm Morley warned that the future of veterinary education in Scotland ‘sits on a precipice’ and called for adequate long-term funding to secure sustainable provision of inclusive veterinary education and, with it, the future of the country’s agrifood economy.
Scottish Parliamentary Committee evidence
BVA Scottish Branch President Gareth Hateley gave evidence to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on the Retained EU Law Bill on 24 November 2022. Gareth also gave evidence to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on Future Agriculture Policy on 22 February 2023.
Scottish Branch meeting with Minister for Energy and the Environment
BVA Scottish Branch officers met with Gillian Martin, Minister for Energy and the Environment in October 2023 to discuss key issues for the veterinary profession and identify how BVA can feed into discussions. Topics included the Scottish Veterinary Service, the Agriculture Bill and Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) programme and the current plans for a series of companion animal welfare issues, which include licensing of dog related activities and aversive training devices. We plan to meet with the Minister again in May 2024.
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 2021-2026
We have launched our manifesto for Wales calling on candidates to sign up to 12 key pledges. The manifesto calls for measures to enhance animal health and welfare, support the veterinary profession, and protect public health.
Read the manifesto for Wales in Welsh (Cymraeg).
Spread the word and write to your PPCs about these important issues using our template letter.
We’ve analysed the main Welsh political parties’ manifestos to explore what they say about animal health and welfare and identify where their manifesto pledges mirror ours, either fully or partially.
Focus on veterinary education at annual Welsh dinner
BVA welcomed the Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths, MSs and stakeholders to the annual Welsh dinner held at Cardiff City Hall on 27 June 2023. BVA President Malcolm Morley used his speech to urge decision-makers to provide sustainable funding for the veterinary school in Aberystwyth, supporting its growth as a flagship institution. He also highlighted the role of vets as trusted advisors to farmers, and called for more clarity on how the Sustainable Land Management scheme will support animal health and welfare in Wales. He closed by praising Wales as a leader in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, drawing attention to the work of projects like Arwain DGC.
Welsh Branch meetings with Rural Affairs Minister
BVA and Welsh Branch officers met Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths on 28 June 2023 to discuss endemic disease, veterinary education, the sustainable farming scheme, CCTV in slaughterhouses, the withdrawal of the kept animals bill, reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, and plans and priorities for animal welfare in Wales. The Minister was keen to work with BVA on many key issues, including action on dog breeding and responsible ownership.
Championing animal health and welfare in sustainable farming
The Agriculture Act (Wales), the primary legislation underpinning the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme, became law on 17 August 2023. We’ve been calling for greater recognition of animal health and welfare within the scheme, raising the issue through speeches, meetings, consultation responses, letters, and briefings for members of the Senedd. We’ll continue to raise awareness of this issue at every opportunity, and will responding to the final consultation in December. We were pleased to see the bill also bring about a complete ban on the use of glue traps and snares in Wales in October 2023.
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
Access to Veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland
BVA is urging the government to establish a permanent solution with the European Union to ensure the continued supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland.
While the grace period for veterinary medicines has been extended to December 2025, BVA continues to advocate for a permanent solution to regulations for veterinary medicines that avoids divergence between markets and guarantees minimal impact on supply for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland dinner
On 18 October 2023, BVA welcomed the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs Katrina Godfrey, MLAs and stakeholders to the annual Northern Ireland Dinner in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Belfast. Hosted by MLA Tom Elliott, 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 her address, BVA President Anna Judson acknowledged the challenges facing vets in Northern Ireland, including the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol and its implications for long-term access to veterinary medicines.
Our manifesto for Northern Ireland 2022
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 Branch meeting with Agriculture Minister
BVA and Northern Ireland Branch Officers met Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs Edwin Poots on 12 October 2022. Topics discussed included access to veterinary medicines, Northern Ireland Protocol issues, workforce and education (including proposals for NI’s first vet school), future farming, bovine TB, and pet welfare.
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.
