The animal medicines industry believes that the UK can be a global leader on animal health and welfare after its EU exit, a new report suggests.
This was the conclusion derived from a report carried out by the UK’s National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) as part of its first Brexit Barometer.
Drawing on insights from 16 animal medicines companies, as well as other stakeholders, the report revealed “overwhelmingly high levels of confidence when it came to animal health and welfare”.
A total of 95% of those who contributed to the report, drawn up after NOAH’s Brexit event in May, stated that they are optimistic about its future.
According to NOAH, the report sets out a clear opportunity for the UK to be the benchmark for animal health and welfare on a global stage. This could be achieved by, for example, setting progressive, flexible and innovative legislation, it added.
These warnings show that the government needs to take decisive action to safeguard the competitiveness of those farming to the UK’s high health and welfare standards – as well as ensuring continued access to medicines for vets, farmers and pet owners, it continued.
The Brexit Barometer showed that a large proportion of the industry was undecided when it comes to the overall future of the animal medicines sector, according to the Chief Executive of NOAH, Dawn Howard.
However, this indicates that the sector sees a very clear opportunity for the UK to show leadership when it comes to animal health and welfare, Howard said.
“What is vital now is that [the] government collaborates closely with [the] industry and heeds its advice to realise this opportunity and leverage these high levels of optimism.
“We must not forget that veterinary medicines support the health and welfare of the UK’s livestock and pets and we stand ready to work with industry and government to help make this happen.“
Meanwhile, the President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), Gudrun Ravetz, believes that the UK’s high standards of animal welfare and food safety provides a unique selling point; this must be maintained in the wake of Brexit, he added.
“This means tackling issues including veterinary involvement from farm-to-fork to underpin animal health, welfare and public health, through to guaranteeing working rights for vets and veterinary nurses.
“It is therefore vital that animal welfare is included in all trade negotiations,” he concluded.