A 1,200-signature letter calling for the principle of Article 13 to be explicitly enshrined in UK legislation post-Brexit, which has been led by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), has been published in the Daily Telegraph today (28 November).
The 1,194 individual veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and veterinary students added their names to a strong call on the UK government to ensure there is a duty on the state to have due regard for animal welfare in the development and implementation of policy, as Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty sets out. Under the UK’s Animal Welfare Acts, accountability for the treatment of an animal focuses on the animal keeper, but not on the state.
The coordinated letter from the veterinary professions follows widespread media attention after a House of Commons debate, wherein MPs voted down an amendment tabled by Green MP Caroline Lucas to include the principles set out in Article 13, which also states animals are sentient, in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. Since Article 13 has its origins in a treaty rather than a regulation, it did not qualify to automatically transfer into UK law as part of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.
The signatories of the Daily Telegraph letter span all areas of veterinary work including small and large animal practice, research, government and academia as well as including former UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officers, Officers of BVA specialist divisions and the Chief Veterinary Officer of SSPCA, amongst others.
BVA Senior Vice President Gudrun Ravetz has been leading BVA’s lobbying on this issue while BVA President John Fishwick recovers from a back operation. Gudrun said:
“The public and professional response to the Article 13 vote was astonishing, but there was much misunderstanding borne from sensationalist headlines that suggested the MPs who voted the amendment down do not believe in animal sentience. The real crux of the debate got lost in this noise.
“BVA supports the principle of Article 13, since it not only recognises that animals are sentient, but importantly puts a duty on the state to have due regard for animal welfare in the development and implementation of policy.
“We exist to represent the views of our members, enabling one strong evidence-based voice that will be heard at national level, in government and the media – and that’s exactly what this letter does, reaching more than 1.2 million people.”
BVA worked with BVNA, as part of the two Associations’ new strategic alliance, to offer veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and veterinary students the opportunity to sign up to the letter from the professions. BVNA President Wendy Nevins said:
“It is essential that the voice of veterinary professionals is heard in this debate and we hope that the government listens to the strength of feeling amongst veterinary nurses, vets and students. We support the government’s call for animal welfare to be strengthened post-Brexit, but we must have the legal framework in place to achieve it.”
BVA, backed by BVNA, will continue to press the government to explain how and when the principle laid down in Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty will be enshrined in UK law before we leave the EU.