DAERA are preparing to implement changes to the administration of the EU Pet Passport Scheme with effect from Monday 7 January 2019.  To assist with the preparations for this change, eligible Veterinary Practices in Northern Ireland, i.e. those with an Authorised Veterinary Inspector (AVI) approved for certification of Pets are now being invited to apply to DAERA to register their intention to continue to supply Pet Passports.  Your practice should receive a letter this week outlining the process and what you have to do to ensure that your practice is involved. The deadline for responses is 16 November 2018. If no response is received by this date, it will be assumed that your practice does not wish to participate in this scheme.

If you believe you are eligible and don’t receive or can’t find your letter, drop tradeadminpost@daera-ni.gov.uk a line as soon as possible.

What a fantastic AVSPNI Autumn Conference guest SPVS President, Peter Brown, is proving to be!  He’s raising funds for our very own Vet Support Northern Ireland by climbing Slieve Donard (and a host of other peaks too).   Peter says “You may have heard that during the summer I have been climbing peaks in Great Britain, from Brown Willy in Cornwall to Ben Nevis in Scotland, to raise money for Vetlife, and I am looking forward to concluding my President’s Peaks by climbing Slieve Donard on Friday 12th October.  On this occasion I’d like to raise money for Vet Support NI.  It is so encouraging to see this recent initiative, supporting the wellbeing of the profession in Northern Ireland, and I’m sure you’d like to join me in supporting such a worthwhile cause.”

Peter is being accompanied by AVSPNI president Phil Walsh and a handful of other intrepid NI vets.  You can sponsor them via the Just Giving crowdfunding page set up for this purpose.

What a fantastic AVSPNI Autumn Conference guest SPVS President, Peter Brown, is proving to be!  He’s raising funds for our very own Vet Support Northern Ireland by climbing Slieve Donard (and a host of other peaks too).   Peter says “You may have heard that during the summer I have been climbing peaks in Great Britain, from Brown Willy in Cornwall to Ben Nevis in Scotland, to raise money for Vetlife, and I am looking forward to concluding my President’s Peaks by climbing Slieve Donard on Friday 12th October.  On this occasion I’d like to raise money for Vet Support NI.  It is so encouraging to see this recent initiative, supporting the wellbeing of the profession in Northern Ireland, and I’m sure you’d like to join me in supporting such a worthwhile cause.”

Peter is being accompanied by AVSPNI president Phil Walsh and a handful of other intrepid NI vets.  You can sponsor them via the Just Giving crowdfunding page set up for this purpose.

NI vets – please encourage all your horse clients to complete a survey of the equine sector which can be found here:
https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/…/north…/consult_view/
Anyone (including yourselves) involved with horses or donkeys, either directly or indirectly, should complete the survey.
Respondents are ask to self-identify themselves as fitting one of the following categories:
·         Recreational Rider
·         Competitor
·         Owner
·         Breeder
·         Thoroughbred Trainer (including point to point)
·         Someone who works directly with horses(e.g. groom/instructor)
·         Someone who works in the ancillary sector (e.g. sales rep/vet/marketing/therapist)
·         Volunteer (e.g. in organising events)
You then work through a short series of questions particular to your category.
The survey is completely anonymous and vital to any plans for growth and development within the sector.

The poster shown here is available from DAERA for you to print and display in your surgery, or contact VetNI and we’ll e-mail you the PDF.

NI vets – please encourage all your horse clients to complete a survey of the equine sector which can be found here:
https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/…/north…/consult_view/
Anyone (including yourselves) involved with horses or donkeys, either directly or indirectly, should complete the survey.
Respondents are ask to self-identify themselves as fitting one of the following categories:
·         Recreational Rider
·         Competitor
·         Owner
·         Breeder
·         Thoroughbred Trainer (including point to point)
·         Someone who works directly with horses(e.g. groom/instructor)
·         Someone who works in the ancillary sector (e.g. sales rep/vet/marketing/therapist)
·         Volunteer (e.g. in organising events)
You then work through a short series of questions particular to your category.
The survey is completely anonymous and vital to any plans for growth and development within the sector.

The poster shown here is available from DAERA for you to print and display in your surgery, or contact VetNI and we’ll e-mail you the PDF.

This A4 DAERA poster can be downloaded HERE for display in your practices and on your website and social media channels.

Please help ensure that anyone who keeps birds are aware of the risk and actions they can take to protect their birds. Remember, advice from the Public Health Agency is that the risk to public health from the virus is very low, however the general public is advised not to touch or pick up birds that are dead, or appear to be sick or dying.  The Food Standards Agency has confirmed that Avian Influenza does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. Thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

Further advice can be found on the DAERA website.

BVD costs the cattle industry in Northern Ireland millions of pounds each year. Changes announced on 17th January 2018 will help support the NI agricultural industry’s efforts to eradicate this disease however the retention of persistently infected animals is still a problem and farmers must be encouraged to follow AHWNI’s advice and remove these animals as soon as possible.

http://www.animalhealthni.com/news_article/117.aspx
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/bvd-statuses-and-movement-restrictions-aphis