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RCVS Council votes for temporary OV registration
Defra expects a 'severe shortage' of OV capacity in abattiors in England and Wales.
The FSA requested a further year of the scheme to protect abattoirs. 

At an RCVS Council meeting yesterday (9 June), the Council unanimously voted to continue temporary registration of non-UK European veterinary surgeons as Official Veterinarians (OVs).

The request to allow the temporary registration came from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), who submitted a similar request in March 2021, allowing non-UK European veterinary surgeons to fulfil meat hygiene tasks in abattoirs for a year. 

Requesting the temporary registration for a further year, the FSA proposed: “We ask that the RCVS admit to its temporary register, vets who (i) have a contract of employment to work as an OV providing meat hygiene controls in England and Wales; (ii) have the necessary skilled worker visa including IELTS at level 5; and (iii) hold European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) accredited veterinary degrees and iv) have completed and passed the meat OV training course. 

“The FSA would then authorise them as an OV on confirmation of their status as a temporary registrant.”

At the meeting, director of veterinary services at the FSA, Jane Clark assured the Council that standards are high, and that 104 temporary registrants are currently working as OVs, with most of them on track to achieve full RCVS registration within a year.

Voting on the motion, the RCVS Council agreed to an extension of 12 months, after which it will be subject to another council vote. Under the agreement, the temporary registration will be reviewed jointly by Defra, the Welsh government, the FSA and the RCVS after six months. 

Speaking on its Twitter platform, the FSA said: “We are delighted that the RCVS agreed to extend Temporary Registration.

“This decision will continue to allow appropriately qualified veterinarians with Level 5 English to temporarily register (TR) with the RCVS and work as Temporary Registered Novice Official Veterinarians (TRNOV).

“This will allow them to help carry out meat controls in abattoirs, whilst further developing their English language skills.”

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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. 

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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.