BVA has welcomed Defra’s announcement that a system of
public money for public goods will be at the centre of the new
Agriculture Bill and that animal health and animal welfare will
be considered as public goods that should benefit from this
legislation. The Agriculture Bill, introduced into Parliament
today, has set out policy to replace the current subsidy system
of direct payments to farmers and the new system will be phased
in over a transition period of seven years from
2020.
On a timeline for the introduction of the new system, Defra
has proposed that the definition of higher animal welfare within
the new public goods framework and the leadership role for animal
health and welfare will be agreed in 2020.
BVA President John Fishwick said: "We are very
pleased to see the move from direct payments linked to land area
to public money being used for public goods. For some time we
have been calling for animal health and animal welfare to be
recognised as public goods to help guarantee that standards in
this area are maintained or improved post Brexit and it is
reassuring to hear that they will be supported with public money
in agricultural policy.
“Vets play a crucial role in UK agriculture, from the
farm-gate through to trade certification and border checks, so
it’s vital that the Government use veterinary expertise to
best effect in the delivery of this new Agriculture Bill. Vets
must be involved in defining what is meant by higher animal
welfare for the new system and there is an absolute need for
veterinary involvement in designing interventions to improve
animal health and welfare.”
“If we are to maintain our global reputation for high
standards of animal health and welfare, and improve our trade
links with the rest of the world, as Mr Gove promises, any future
investment in the UK farming industry must be targeted at
measures to maintain and enhance standards of animal health and
welfare.”
