Veterinarians are vital to achieving the United Kingdom government’s post-Brexit vision for high animal welfare and food safety standards, says the British Veterinary Association (BVA) as it launches a report setting out its key recommendations for the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

The BVA Brexit and the Veterinary Profession Report, was developed through consultation with BVA members, devolved branches, BVA specialist divisions, and other key stakeholders, outlines the role that the U.K. veterinary workforce plays in not only caring for animals, but in enabling trade, ensuring food hygiene and safety, and undertaking research.

Non-British European Union (EU) veterinary surgeons are critical to the U.K. veterinary workforce. Around 50% of veterinary surgeons registering to practice in the U.K. each year come from overseas, with the vast majority of these coming from the rest of the EU. Yet one-fifth of vets are already reporting that it has become harder to recruit since the EU Referendum