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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, for the Northern Ireland Assembly election in May 2022, and for all political parties in UK/Westminster in December 2023.
UK / Westminster
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
UK / Westminster
Lobbying for Animal Welfare legislation
We’re currently supporting several pieces of legislation which would support animal welfare:
- Primates as pets - We have long called for action to be taken to protect primates being kept as pets in the UK and were pleased to see the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2023 be signed into law on 5 March 2023.
- Livestock exports – We’re briefing Lords and peers as this ban progresses through the committee stage in the House of Lords.
- Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets – We took part in a roundtable to ensure this bill offers strong protections for imported animals
- Protection of Livestock – We’re supporting the proposed bill and closely monitoring its progress through Parliament.
- Pet abduction - We support this bill which recognises the potential impact pet theft has on owners and animal welfare, and are monitoring its progress through Parliament
- Electric shock collars – We continue to lobby the Government to conclude this piece of legislation and have written to the Minister along with several organisations including Dogs Trust and Battersea.
BVA continues to lobby to ensure that the individual measures contained within the scrapped Kept Animals Bill will be taken forward. Visit our dedicated Kept Animals Bill webpage for the latest updates.
Raising concerns over the XL Bully ban
With the XL Bully ban being implemented in England, Wales and Scotland, BVA has been engaging regularly with Defra and the Scottish Government, both as a member of the Dangerous Dogs Coalition and separately, to provide a veterinary perspective. Through our campaigning, we have continually aimed to mitigate impacts on vets and veterinary practices and have been successful in advocating for improvements in the language used within neutering confirmation forms and establishing that vets are not responsible for typing dogs.
In recognition that Breed Specific Legislation does not work to decrease the number of people bitten or attacked by dogs, we also continue to lobby for significant reform of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to produce breed neutral legislation that focuses on responsible breeding and ownership, early intervention and better enforcement.
Championing Animal Welfare in Trade
BVA met with peers and MPs to discuss animal welfare in the trade deals the UK has signed since leaving the EU. We also discussed the feasibility of establishing a set of minimal standards in any future trade agreements, in addition to initiatives such as the “Buy British” button which would support high animal welfare British produce in supermarkets. We will continue to engage with parliamentarians and key stakeholders to push for a minimum set of standards for all UK trade deals which will safeguard our high animal welfare standards.
Reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act central to Westminster briefing
BVA hosted a briefing for MPs and Peers on 6 March 2024. The event was hosted by the only vet in the House of Commons, Dr Neil Hudson MP. It was attended by 28 cross-party MPs and Peers, including the Defra Secretary of State and members of the Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs team. BVA President Dr Anna Judson urged for cross-party collaboration to urgently support reform of the outdated 1966 Veterinary Surgeons Act, and highlighted key issues such as dangerous dogs, Brucella canis, and the public health implications of veterinary medicine supply issues. The event was very well received and we were pleased to hear many comments supporting our work.
BVA President urges politicians to reform veterinary regulation to ensure animal welfare
BVA welcomed the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Barclay, MPs, Peers and stakeholders to the annual London Dinner held in Westminster on 28 February 2024. Speaking to guests, BVA President Anna Judson urged for reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and the overhaul of the Dangerous Dogs Act. She also advocated for the need to tackle issues left unresolved by the abandonment of the Kept Animals Bill and the importance of securing permanent access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland.
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 attend House of Lords for veterinary medicines inquiry
As part of their work advocating for a permanent solution to the supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland, BVA Northern Ireland Branch President Esther Skelly-Smith and BVA NI Branch Past President and Honorary Secretary Mark Little were invited to give evidence to the House of Lords Sub-Committee on the Windsor Framework’s inquiry into veterinary medicines, held on 17 January 2024.
Warning that Northern Ireland faces a ‘public health emergency’ unless permanent access to veterinary medicines is secured, Esther and Mark outlined the implications should the current grace period end without a permanent, workable solution.
The full committee session is available online, with BVA’s evidence from 16:24.
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 planet
We've launched our manifesto calling on all political parties to sign up to key pledges to enhance animal health and welfare, support the veterinary profession, and protect public health.