The National Equine Welfare Protocol was launched today in London in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal. 

This is a major new welfare initiative and sets out how, collectively and individually, the industry will act to promote equine welfare and to respond to reported instances of neglect or abuse.   For full details please refer to the attachment.

The Veterinary Wound Healing Association has announced the launch of their new Veterinary Wound Library. To learn more click on the attachment

HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of the Association since 2003, has kindly agreed to extend her patronage for a further three years.  Her Royal Highness has been most generous with her time and supportive of the work of the Association over this period.  During her term as Patron The Princess Royal has opened BEVA Congress, supported the work of the BEVA Trust at fundraising events, attended the President’s Reception at Congress, opened the Congress trade show, chaired a day meeting, supported the Association at the launch of the Emergency Services Protocol and most recently attended the AGM and inaugurated current BEVA President David Dugdale. During the next three years it is very much hoped that Her Royal Highness will be able to support the work of the BEVA Trust and the Emergency Services Protocol.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has modified the Rules of Racing Rule 144 that pertains to Veterinary Certification with regard to non-runners. This modification comes into force on the 22nd March 2008.
 
As from that date, a racehorse trainer will be able to self-certify a horse he/she considers unfit to race as being a non-runner. In such an event, the horse will not be permitted to race for a period of 6 days from date of self-certification. Veterinary certificates issued as a result of a clinical examination by a veterinary surgeon will NOT be subject to the six day restriction, but cannot rescind a trainer's self-certification.
 
The full amended Rule 144 and Instruction D10 and the new Veterinary Certificate can be seen under the section ‘ forms to download’ on the right.

Three BEVA members are standing for election for the RCVS Council. They are Charles Gruchy, Richard Stephenson and Barry Johnson (re-election).

Charles Gruchy was Born in Jersey, Channel Islands and qualified from Cambridge in 1976. He worked for Parker and Godsal Veterinary Surgeons, Wendover, Buckinghamshire in mixed practice with equine bias before returning to Jersey in 1979, to work at David Place Veterinary Hospital. He has been a BEVA member since graduating and his main clinical interests centre on equine work and ophthalmology. In 2004 he gained the General Practice Certificate (Equine Practice) under the auspices of the European School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies He is currently a member of the BVA Ethics and Welfare Group and served as a co-opted member of the RCVS Advisory Committee from 2003-2007. If elected Charles will focus his energies on a wide number of areas including a thorough review of the RCVS disciplinary hearing process, monitoring the progress of the Practice Standards Scheme and the implementation of the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice together with the need for judicious handling of the relationship the profession has with the public and government. He also intends to provide robust representation into the annual Veterinary Medicines Regulations consultation, especially the prescription charge review. He feels that as a first opinion practitioner he is able to give insight into the challenges facing those in each of these important areas affecting the profession.