Brexit, wildlife and the

veterinary profession:
A personal perspective

Alick Simmons
alicksimmons@gmail.com
@alicksimmons
www.linkedin.com/in/alick-simmons

BVZS 2017 Conference, London

 Outline
Brexit
Brexit and the veterinary profession: risks
and opportunities
Brexit, wildlife and the environment: risks
and opportunities
Wildlife and the veterinary profession
 Brexit
one of the most significant economic and political
events in the UK since the Second World War

Due to take place sometime after April 2019

Substantial uncertainty about nature of withdrawal
Hard or soft Brexit?
In or out of the Customs Union?
In or out of the Single Market?
EU 27 citizens living/working in the UK.
Will there be a trade deal with the EU?
Will there be trade deals with others?
 Brexit and the veterinary profession:
risks and opportunities (1)
BVA Working Group: Identify key
issues arising from Brexit in order to
inform BVAs lobbying.

Final report focused on:

Workforce
Animal Health
Animal Welfare
Food Safety and Public Health
Veterinary Medicines
Research and Development
Trade
Northern Ireland
https://tinyurl.com/y8ucal9l
 Brexit and the veterinary profession:
risks and opportunities (2)
The UK Government should:
R1. . guarantee working rights for non-British EU vets and veterinary
nurses with no time limit.
R9. retain existing animal health legislation and maintain resources for
veterinary surveillance. Existing standards in relation to [imports] .
must also be maintained.
R18. ..ensure there is a strong, risk-based framework to protect animal
health and welfare and which will endure post-Brexit. This should [include]
.. gradual, evidence-based steps toward improvement.
Brexit and the veterinary profession:
risks and opportunities (3)
R22: Public money to
replace CAP should be used
to support and incentivise
public goods:
animal health and
welfare
disease surveillance
biodiversity
environmental
stewardship
Brexit and the veterinary profession:
risks and opportunities (4)
'Repeal Bill (European Union (Withdrawal) Bill) will:
end membership of the EU
ensure laws we live by today remain in force
Likely to include animal health and welfare, public
health, veterinary medicines, etc.
Likely to include legislation to protect and enhance the
environment such as Habitats Directive, etc.
Will not affect UK-only legislation.
Brexit, wildlife and the environment:
risks and opportunities (1)

WG report did not cover in

great detail
Recommended support for
biodiversity and
environmental stewardship
Welfare of wildlife not covered
Most EU law silent on wild
animal welfare
Brexit, wildlife and the environment:
risks and opportunities (2)
Once the Repeal Bill is enacted the process of review, amendment and
revocation can begin.
Likely to take many years.
Some EU legislation likely to need separate legislation to be retained.
An opportunity to seek enhancements that protect wild animal welfare and
enhance biodiversity. Other views might be expected.
Legislation to protect wild animal welfare in UK regulations is scant.
Brexit, wildlife and the environment:
risks and opportunities (3)
UK legislation concerned with protection of scarce species (with
overlap with EU).
Some prohibition and control over traps and use of poisons

Questions:

Does Brexit provide an opportunity to improve wildlife management

and wildlife welfare?
Does the veterinary profession have a role to play?
Brexit, wildlife and the environment: risks
and opportunities (4)
Does Brexit provide an opportunity to improve wildlife
management and wildlife welfare?

Leaving the European Union means leaving the Common Agricultural Policy,
leaving the Common Fisheries Policy, and taking back control of environmental
policy.

And alongside encouraging greater bio-diversity and the way in which farmers
manage their land, I also want to see higher standards across the board of
animal welfare.
Michael Gove, 21 July 2017
Brexit, wildlife and the environment: risks
and opportunities (5)
Lets be ambitious
End the casual, routine killing of wildlife
Hold landowners (and householders) to account
Require an evidence base
Methods of killing to be approved to improve welfare
Be open to scrutiny
 An Ethical Framework
Similar to that applied to experimental animals

For lethal intervention to be sanctioned, the minimum is:

evidence demonstrating the species in question was

the cause of the economic loss, damage, disease, etc,
cost-benefit analysis of intervention including likely
effects on the population and environmental impact.
cost-benefit analysis of appropriate changes to the
affected business.
consideration of the species value to society.
acceptable welfare standards.

Simmons (2016)
Three Rats
Grouse, Hares, Ticks and a Virus

Photo: BAWC
We conclude that there is no compelling evidence base to
suggest culling mountain hares might increase red grouse
densities.
(Harrison and others, 2010)
Wildlife and the veterinary profession
Does the veterinary profession have a role to play?

Campaign for better wild

animal welfare
Promote bio-diversity and
bio-abundance
Adopt and promote the
same welfare standards for
all animals
Campaign for an ethical
framework for wildlife
Consider wildlife as being
under our care