16 December 2009

3 minute read

North America

The changes will strengthen animal health safeguarding activities and increase the training and skills of accredited veterinarians in disease prevention and preparedness for animal health emergencies.

“The NVAP programme leverages non-government-employed veterinarians’ medical expertise, as well as their relationships in the communities and industries they serve, to help USDA more effectively provide regulated animal health services,” said John Clifford, APHIS veterinary services deputy administrator. “The revisions to this important programme will help better protect US animal health in the face of current complexities in business, trade and travel.”

The new programme creates two accreditation categories based on the species on which accredited duties will be performed in place of a former single category. It includes requirements for supplemental online training to ensure accredited veterinarians receive the latest information necessary to support APHIS’ animal health safeguarding efforts.

The revisions also call for accreditation to be renewed every three years where previously accreditation did not require renewal. The renewal requirement ensures that accredited veterinarians will have the most up-to-date information on foreign animal and zoonotic diseases and the risks associated with them. The NVAP also will offer programme certifications that will allow veterinarians to participate in program-specific APHIS activities.

Another important change under the new regulations is that veterinarians accredited before 1 February 2010, must apply to continue their accreditation in the revised programme. If they do not apply, their accreditation will expire. APHIS will announce this change in a variety of veterinary publications, state and national meetings and through veterinary list serves.

The regulation has received support from the major animal health organisations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, the United States Animal Health Association and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. The United States depends extensively on accredited veterinarians to carry out many of its animal health programmes and services - including animal inspections, testing and certifications. Accredited veterinarians serve as the first line of defense in ensuring the health of the Nation’s livestock. Businesses that transport and export animals also rely on the expertise of accredited veterinarians to help ensure that exported animals will not introduce diseases into other states or countries.

The NVAP is a voluntary programme. Participation is not mandated by the federal government, however, more than 80 per cent of all US veterinarians, or about 71,000, are accredited. Accredited veterinarians who participate in the NVAP must work according to the federal standards for accredited veterinarians. The NVAP does not regulate general veterinary practice, but rather the performance of specific accredited duties; veterinarians who are not accredited may still provide general veterinary care to any animal.

Being part of the NVAP allows private sector veterinarians to offer additional services to their clients such as certifying animal and herd health. Small animal practitioners can use their accreditation to certify companion animals for domestic and international movement.

Further Reading

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You can find out more information about the accreditation programme by clicking here.