In addition to resolutions on veal calf housing (see page 1) and increased involvement with veterinary students (see page 8), the House of Delegates took action Saturday on 11 other resolutions and a proposed bylaw change.
Two resolutions dealing with animal identification received strong votes of approval. An ovation by the delegates followed their approval of Resolution 17, calling for the AVMA to actively promote the implementation of linking companion animal databases. Dr. Larry Dee, delegate from the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, which submitted it, said, "This does not change AVMA policy; it puts the issue on the action list. Personally, I think this is something we need to move forward on."
Resolution 8 received a 100-percent vote of approval. It resolves that the HOD support identification of livestock to enable trace back and trace forward of animals for disease control and eradication programs. Dr. Michael Whitehair of the House Advisory Committee, which submitted it, said, "As we look at the scope of veterinary medicine, we recognize as we play in the international arena it's important for us to have a policy ... especially in the area of food safety."
Resolution 7 encourages the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine to strictly enforce its rules prohibiting drug compounding that produces unapproved mimics of commercially available FDA-approved drugs, to ensure the health and welfare of animals and the public. The HOD approved this resolution. It is not targeted at traditional patient-specific compounding.
The HOD strongly approved Resolution 9, mandating the AVMA to engage in enhanced collaboration and communication with the health sciences professions and their respective associations working locally, nationally, and globally among multiple disciplines to attain optimal health for people, animals, and the environment.
With approval of Resolution 6, the AVMA will develop a Model Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for the Domestic Travel of Companion Animals.
The HOD unanimously approved Resolution 3, encouraging the delegates, alternate delegates, and principal and constituent allied veterinary organizations represented in the HOD to engage in grassroots support for funding of the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank. Since 1987, the AVMA has had a policy supporting FARAD funding. The House Advisory Committee submitted the resolution to strengthen support for funding the online decision support system.
Resolution 13 was approved after being amended on a motion by Dr. Sal Cirone, District of Columbia VMA delegate, to state that the Executive Board encourages, rather than commissions, the National Commission on Veterinary Economic issues to (1) study economic factors impacting veterinarians in federal and state public practice and academia, including salaries and benefits, recruitment, retention, and professional opportunities, (2) evaluate how these factors compare with allied health professions, and how they affect allied professions, and (3) make recommendations on how to close any gaps that exist and prevent them from growing.
To adequately enforce the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, the AVMA will encourage the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service to add more veterinary positions and hire more veterinarians, as requested in Resolution 2, which the HOD approved.
Resolution 11 received a strong vote of approval. It calls for the AVMA to place top priority on proposing and advocating for passage of legislation to provide equal pay for veterinarians and physicians carrying out equal work in the federal government, with regard to base salary and special pay; to support state VMAs pursuing equity in pay for public practice veterinarians; and to work with other organizations to accomplish these goals.
Resolution 12 was disapproved. It proposed that the AVMA adopt an official position to lead the initiative to promote equal pay for veterinarians and physicians doing equal work, as part of the One Health Initiative's mandate.
The HOD disapproved Resolution 10, calling for the AVMA to actively promote evidence-based research on canine influenza virus and its potential effects on animal and human health. On the HOD floor, Dr. John Clifford of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said personnel at the APHIS Center for Veterinary Biologics have concerns about lack of evidence that canine influenza virus is causing disease in dogs. The AVMA has had a policy supporting development of a canine influenza vaccine since 2006.
A proposed amendment to the AVMA Bylaws was approved that permits the election of council members during the HOD regular winter session, in addition to the regular annual session held in conjunction with the AVMA Annual Convention. The House Advisory Committee submitted the amendment to allow the HOD to fill unexpected vacancies on AVMA councils in a timely fashion.
