Veterinary Events and Conferences

Workshops on Exports to Feature at this Year’s OV Conference

vetreportAugust 15, 2017

Alexandra House, Swindon: 21-22 September 2017

With the veterinary sector gearing up to face the challenges and opportunities posed by Brexit, workshops on exports are a key feature of this year’s Official Veterinarian (OV) Conference.  The theme of the conference –  ‘Safeguarding international trade through disease control and surveillance’ – has been chosen to reflect the increasing importance of OVs in safeguarding the UK’s international trade and in protecting human health through disease surveillance and control.

The annual OV Conference provides a forum to discuss the latest developments in OV work and is organised by Improve International in association with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Keynote speakers at this year’s event include Professor Nigel Gibbens CBE, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer; Dr Ryan Waters from The Pirbright Institute in Surrey and Dr Ian Wright, Head of ESCCAP UK & Guideline Director for ESCCAP Europe.  It takes place at Alexandra House in Swindon on 21-22 September 2017.

Commenting on the conference, Professor Gibbens said: “UK vets play a range of critical roles, protecting our country from endemic and exotic diseases, leading the frontline response to global challenges, such as antibiotic resistance, and safeguarding our animals to ensure our welfare standards remain the best in the world.

“I look forward to joining our OVs to celebrate this essential work and to explore the themes of this year’s conference – disease control and surveillance – which recognise the importance of vets to international trade and their contribution to our thriving food and farming industry.”

Mr David Babington MRCVS, Managing Director of Improve International, added: “This year’s OV Conference will, as usual, feature dedicated lecture streams aimed at large animal, small animal and equine practitioners.  We hope the new workshops on the more specialist Official Controls Qualifications (Veterinarian), including those relating to the export of poultry (OCQ(V) AX); the export of food and animal by-products (OCQ(V) PX) and the export of germinal products (OCQ(V) GX), will prove a useful addition to our delegates.”

The full programme and other useful information is available at www.officialvet.com.

The annual OV Conference aims to provide a forum to discuss the latest developments in OV work and to offer an opportunity for OVs to network and share experiences and ideas.  A collaboration between Improve International, which handles OV registration and training in England, Scotland and Wales; 5m Publishing and the APHA, it also features an exhibition of products and services tailored to the needs of OVs. The exhibition is sponsored by Abaxis UK, Nova Laboratories, Pet Air UK, petDetect, Pet ID Microchips, PLH Medical and Woodley Equipment.

For more information on the Official Veterinarian Conference and Exhibition or to register visit: www.officialvet.com