Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 11th March 2016
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

MEPs approve Animal Health Law
Vet with cow
The new law will give authorities and producers more time to focus on prevention and control of transmissible animal diseases.
Streamlines 40 animal welfare acts into one

New legislation to prevent and halt outbreaks of animal diseases, informally agreed by MEPs in 2015, was signed into law on Tuesday (9 March).

The Animal Health Law streamlines the huge number of legal acts relating to animal health into a single law.

Ministers agree that simpler and clearer rules will free up time, enabling authorities and those having to follow the rules to focus on preventing and eradicating disease.

"The adoption of the Animal Health Law is a great victory,” said rapporteur Jasenko Selimovic.  

“This law makes three things possible. First, it links animal health and welfare and connects it to human health. This direct link, together with emphasis on responsible use of antibiotics, will help us fight growing antimicrobial resistance.

“Second, it enables the authorities and producers to focus more closely on prevention and control of transmissible animal diseases. And third, it merges around 40 legal acts into one basic act”.

Under the new law, all vets, farmers, traders and pet owners will be obliged to apply the principles of good animal husbandry. They will also be required to use veterinary medicines with caution.

Vets will be duty-bound to raise awareness of the interaction between animal health and welfare and human health, as well as antimicrobial resistance.

For its part, the EU Commission has pledged to monitor the actual use of animal antibiotics in member states and regularly publish compatible data.

The new law will give the EU Commission the power to take urgent measures to tackle emerging diseases that may have a “highly significant impact” on public health and agricultural production.

Furthermore, to help prevent strays or illegally traded pets transmitting animal disease, MEPs inserted rules that would require all professional pet keepers and sellers to be registered.

The legislation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will enter into force 20 days later and will be applicable five years thereafter.

To view the adopted text visit: http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11779-2015-INIT/en/pdf 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.