Business

Predicted 325% rise in veterinary certificates post-Brexit

A 325 per cent rise in the need for veterinary certifications post-Brexit has been predicted by the UK chief veterinary officer
A 325 per cent rise in the need for veterinary certifications post-Brexit has been predicted by the UK chief veterinary officer A 325 per cent rise in the need for veterinary certifications post-Brexit has been predicted by the UK chief veterinary officer

A SHOCKING 325 per cent rise in the need for veterinary certifications post-Brexit has been predicted by an industry leader.

According to the UK chief veterinary officer, Nigel Gibbens, the volume of products requiring veterinary certifications could increase

significantly following the EU exit and there are fears this could impact heavily on the industry as a whole.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) believes new trade agreements for meat and agricultural products like milk, gelatine and hay could trigger a significant increase in the number of veterinary certifications needed, requiring many more vets to perform this role.

There are currently 1,063 official veterinarians authorised by the Government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to certify food products for export to third countries from the UK, and this number would need to increase significantly to accommodate the rise in certification that could happen post-Brexit.

The BVA is urging the Government to undertake a major timely review of third country certification to ensure the capacity is in place to fulfil new trade agreements. To combat the potential shortage in veterinary capacity, the organisation is also calling for working rights to be guaranteed for non-British EU vets and veterinary nurses currently working and studying in the UK.

British Veterinary Association senior vice president, Gudrun Ravetz said:

“Vets are absolutely vital to facilitating UK trade by ensuring standards so that consumers at home and abroad have confidence in the food safety and welfare of the products they choose to buy. Veterinary certification is required not only for meat, but a whole range of products such as gelatine in sweets.

“Ironically, it is non-British EU vets who make up around 50 per cent of our new workforce each year. However, since the EU referendum, we are facing serious problems in recruiting and retaining EU vets, which makes the need for more vets to perform this crucial trade-task an even more pressing concern. Vets’ role in the future of UK trade must be recognised and planned for, as an integral part of forthcoming trade negotiations.”

The BVA trade submission also outlines that access to veterinary medicines could potentially be restricted post-Brexit. In order to protect animal and public health, BVA is calling for any new trade deal with the EU to maintain the link with EU veterinary medicine approval systems.