Service will replace APHA's field animal functions in Scotland.
A new Scottish Veterinary Service (SVS) will be set up to replace the field animal health and welfare functions currently delivered by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in Scotland.
Scotland's rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon confirmed the new service at the National Farmers Union of Scotland's (NFUS) annual general meeting.
To be developed in the the lifetime of the current parliament, the SVS will meet the needs across the public and private sector for land and marine based animal health.
Ms Gougeon commented on the plans: “For a range of reasons – Brexit among them – we do not have enough of the right people with the right qualifications. The SVS will help us create opportunities for more young people in Scotland to want to pursue rewarding careers in veterinary, animal health and food safety services.
“This process will present some exciting opportunities to focus on what is best for Scotland. There will also be challenges along the way, but I am confident that a model designed specifically around the needs of Scotland will deliver efficiencies and an enhanced service.
“We will, of course, continue to work collaboratively with APHA as well as the other administrations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as part of the overall control of diseases within the UK.”
A Programme Board, comprised of representatives from the organisations involved in the delivery and enforcement of animal health and welfare and food safety will meet at the end of February to assess the functions the SVS needs, and what format these functions may take.
“Creating a Scottish Veterinary Service is a Programme for Government commitment that will help the industry to flourish,” Ms Gougeon added.
“Industry must be involved in setting this up, to ensure this happens, a stakeholder working group will feed directly into the Programme Board.”
The British Veterinary Association has responded to the announcement in a news release. Romain Pizzi, BVA Scottish Branch president, said: “We see advantages and potential risks in the creation of a new Scottish Veterinary Service, so we’re keen to help shape the plans.
“In Scotland we pride ourselves on high welfare, high quality agricultural produce so there are real opportunities for a more Scotland-centric approach that can really focus on our own animal health and welfare priorities.
“But we know that diseases and animal welfare problems don’t respect borders, and so it will be critical that there are systems in place for a new service to collaborate and liaise with the rest of the UK, and beyond, on disease surveillance, data collection, and information sharing.
“Veterinary expertise must be at the heart of any new service, and we look forward to engaging with Scottish Government through the stakeholder group as the plans develop.”
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