Vets are vital to achieving the UK Government's post-Brexit vision for high animal welfare, according to the British Veterinary Association.

The group has launched a report setting out its key recommendations for the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

BVA's 'Brexit and the veterinary profession' report, has been developed following consultation with BVA members, devolved branches, BVA specialist divisions and other key stakeholders.

The report outlines the role that the UK veterinary workforce plays in caring for animals, enabling trade, ensuring food hygiene and safety, and undertaking cutting-edge research.

Non-British EU veterinary surgeons are critical to the UK veterinary workforce.

Around 50 per cent of veterinary surgeons registering to practise in the UK each year come from overseas, with the vast majority of these coming from the rest of the EU.

Yet one-fifth of vets are already reporting that it has become harder to recruit since the EU Referendum.

Launching the report, BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said:

“Vets provide the foundation for the UK’s work on animal health and welfare.

"Veterinary teams up and down the country support the UK’s 11 million pet-owning households.

"Not a penny of the UK’s £13 billion agri-food industry could be realised without vets, and we are an integral part of the international scientific community, annually bringing in over £50 million for research and development projects.

“The veterinary profession is in a unique position from which to offer the next Government evidence-based policy recommendations to ensure animal health and welfare, public health and other standards are at the very least maintained as we exit the EU.

“We believe Brexit also presents us with opportunities, for example, to develop a strong, competitive food industry with full consumer confidence at home and abroad as well as to position the UK as a world leader in high animal welfare, and a strong veterinary workforce is vital in achieving this.”

What do you think to the new report? Let us know on our Facebook page, don't forget to give us a like!

For more information please visit bva.co.uk/brexit.