The Department of Agriculture should open new contracts for vets to inspect meat factories and extend the initiative to upcoming Brexit border checks, said Veterinary Ireland president David MacGuinness.
MacGuinness, a vet from Dundalk, Co Louth, took over the position at the association's annual conference in Kilkenny this Friday.
The recruitment of up to 300 vets is due to start in the new year
Temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) are independent vets who monitor food safety at meat factories on a contract basis.
MacGuinness has called on the Department to allow new vets to join the panel of TVIs who can be called for this job, adding that no such recruitment had taken place since 2012.
"The TVI inspection certified by veterinary surgeons provides important consumer assurances around animal welfare and food safety," he said.
'Drain from practices'
MacGuinness also warned against competition for vets from a "blanket recruitment drive" by the Department to staff border inspection points after Brexit.
The Irish Farmers Journal revealed last week that the recruitment of up to 300 vets is due to start in the new year.
This could "drain professionals from veterinary practices who provide important services to farmers, pet owners and sectors such as the equine industry," according to Veterinary Ireland.
"If Brexit does occur and border checks of any form are required for animal movement, we would encourage the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider a structure such as the TVI workforce be mobilised," said MacGuinness.
This would allow vets to continue working in their practices and provide services at border checkpoints on a part-time basis alongside Department officials.
Medicines regulation
Also speaking at the conference, Joe Collins of the organisation European Veterinarians in Education, Research and Industry urged EU authorities to complete a new proposed regulation on animal medicines.
"An EU regulation is more prescriptive than a directive and thus there will be less flexibility for member states to differ in their approach," he said.
"It also comes at a time when issues such as antimicrobial resistance are very much more to the fore politically and scientifically.
"We should expect some changes to the prescribing and dispensing regime for veterinary medicinal products and particularly for anti-infective agents."
Collins also warned of uncertainty surrounding the licensing of animal medicines currently sold across the UK and Ireland after Brexit.
Read more
New year recruitment for Brexit vets
Veterinary Council tightens prescription guidelines
The Department of Agriculture should open new contracts for vets to inspect meat factories and extend the initiative to upcoming Brexit border checks, said Veterinary Ireland president David MacGuinness.
MacGuinness, a vet from Dundalk, Co Louth, took over the position at the association's annual conference in Kilkenny this Friday.
The recruitment of up to 300 vets is due to start in the new year
Temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) are independent vets who monitor food safety at meat factories on a contract basis.
MacGuinness has called on the Department to allow new vets to join the panel of TVIs who can be called for this job, adding that no such recruitment had taken place since 2012.
"The TVI inspection certified by veterinary surgeons provides important consumer assurances around animal welfare and food safety," he said.
'Drain from practices'
MacGuinness also warned against competition for vets from a "blanket recruitment drive" by the Department to staff border inspection points after Brexit.
The Irish Farmers Journal revealed last week that the recruitment of up to 300 vets is due to start in the new year.
This could "drain professionals from veterinary practices who provide important services to farmers, pet owners and sectors such as the equine industry," according to Veterinary Ireland.
"If Brexit does occur and border checks of any form are required for animal movement, we would encourage the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider a structure such as the TVI workforce be mobilised," said MacGuinness.
This would allow vets to continue working in their practices and provide services at border checkpoints on a part-time basis alongside Department officials.
Medicines regulation
Also speaking at the conference, Joe Collins of the organisation European Veterinarians in Education, Research and Industry urged EU authorities to complete a new proposed regulation on animal medicines.
"An EU regulation is more prescriptive than a directive and thus there will be less flexibility for member states to differ in their approach," he said.
"It also comes at a time when issues such as antimicrobial resistance are very much more to the fore politically and scientifically.
"We should expect some changes to the prescribing and dispensing regime for veterinary medicinal products and particularly for anti-infective agents."
Collins also warned of uncertainty surrounding the licensing of animal medicines currently sold across the UK and Ireland after Brexit.
Read more
New year recruitment for Brexit vets
Veterinary Council tightens prescription guidelines
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