More than 1000 veterinary surgeons, nurses and students have called 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.

BVA senior vice president Gudrun Ravetz 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."

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.”