By BVA Scottish Branch President, Kathleen Robertson.

THIS HAS arguably been one of the toughest years for vets and farmers in Scotland. The continuing impact of the pandemic as well as the changes that Brexit will bring mean we must be ready to respond and adapt to any challenges we face in the new year.

Whatever your views were on Brexit, we will need to make the most of the opportunities the end of the transition period brings in order to uphold high animal health and welfare standards and champion quality-assured Scottish produce.

To achieve this, I’d like to see us draw upon the strength of our existing vet-farmer relationships to help our professions bounce back from the challenges of 2020 to deliver strong animal health and welfare outcomes in 2021.

BVA will also be playing a role in ensuring that animal health and welfare are on the agenda in the new post-Brexit agricultural policies across the UK. And with the parliamentary elections due in May, there’ll be further opportunity to lobby political parties to pledge to support the veterinary workforce and enhance animal health and welfare in their manifestos.

I’m also looking forward to some important pieces of legislation being considered in Parliament next year- including a stronger livestock worrying bill and stricter laws to restrict the sale and use of fireworks. Together with compulsory CCTV in abattoirs from July, there is much to be positive about for 2021.