Two food groups in the United Kingdom have raised a big worry about there not being enough vets. This could cause problems for the meat industry.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are telling the government and vets to come up with a solid plan. They need more vets who know how to take care of the UK’s animals and meat.
Vets and Meat Inspectors are very important. They check every animal before and after it is turned into meat. This is to make sure the animals do not have any sickness that can make people or other animals sick.
Emily Miles, who is in charge at the FSA, spoke to a group of people who make big decisions about farming and the environment. She said we need more vets right now!
They found out that more vets are needed than before. A few years ago, they were short by 11 percent.
Big Worries Right Now
After talking to the group, Emily said if they don’t have enough vets, people might not trust the meat as much. We need vets, mostly from other countries, to check that the meat is good and the animals are treated right.
The FSA is asking for new rules, money help, a vet-friendly travel policy, and a plan for good vet jobs.
If there are not enough vets, meat plants might have to stop working. This could be bad because: unsafe meat might be sold, it would be harder to sell meat to other countries, it could be sad for animals that can’t be taken for meat, and companies could lose money.
The FSA says the old rules need updating to make the work better for vets. After the UK left the EU, vets from the EU need to show they can speak English well and get a permission to work. Some fixes have helped make things better, but they need a good, long-term plan.
The FSA hires vets through other companies. They’re looking for new companies to do this now. They thought about hiring vets directly but it cost too much.
Scotland’s Challenges
Food Standards Scotland shares some problems, many because the UK left the EU. They say it’s tough to find vets. There are new rules about signing up as a vet, new travel rules, and less time to work each week.
Since 2019, FSS has been trying to get their own vets. They wanted to hire five but only got one who is still learning. To fill in spots, they had to hire temporary vets, which costs more.
They had a backup plan for when they don’t have enough staff. They had to use it a lot last year.
Geoff Ogle, who is in charge at Food Standards Scotland, said they really need more vets. Most of their vets are from other countries. Out of about 30, only one works part-time and is from the UK.
They need these vets to make sure animals are treated right and the meat is safe. That’s why getting vets from other places remains key.