AVMA adopts new policies on climate change, certificates of veterinary inspection

The AVMA has a new policy on “Climate Change and Related Sustainability Issues” after requests by Association members and the AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) requested that the AVMA further elaborate its position on the topic.

The AVMA Board of Directors (BOD) approved the policy and took action on a number of other policies during its November 13-15 meeting at AVMA headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Sustainability issues

This new policy on climate change replaces AVMA policies on “Climate Change and One Health,” “Environmental Responsibility Is a One Health Issue,” and “Extractive Industries.”

The new policy reads, in part, “The AVMA recognizes the significant health impacts arising from climate change, including the anthropogenic drivers of the problem. The AVMA has endorsed the World Veterinary Association's position that climate change is a global emergency, recognizing that veterinarians have a professional responsibility to protect environmental health. The AVMA also acknowledges that climate change is one of several interrelated sustainability challenges and is best addressed in the context of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.”

The Committee on Environmental Issues (CEI), which was responsible for crafting the policy, wrote in its recommendation to the Board that it worked responsibly to expound on issues related to climate change, “while at the same time developing statements that help to describe areas where veterinarians can make an impact with sustainability initiatives as encouraged by the House of Delegates and the BOD.”

The HOD asked the Board to consider having the AVMA develop member resources that promote environmental sustainability in the veterinary workplace during its regular annual session in July 2023. That came after House members discussed sustainability in veterinary medicine, specifically the greening of veterinary workplaces, during its Veterinary Information Forum (VIF).

The VIF topic addressed resources, but the CEI wanted a policy to support resource development, explained Dr. Robert Knapp, AVMA Board chair. “This is step one, and then the resources will come.”

Since the HOD meeting, the Board reviewed previous versions of the policy on two separate occasions. “With assistance from the Board liaison, the CEI has revisited the proposed policy wording and worked to minimize prescriptive statements and overreach,” the background states.

Board members discussed one of the policy’s statements that addresses educating others about the effects of climate change, which states “the AVMA encourages veterinarians to communicate with the public about the one health impacts arising from climate change and other environmental hazards.” A question was asked about to what degree veterinarians should be educating the public about human health issues.

Dr. Michael Bailey, AVMA president-elect, said, “We’re a broad profession. We are One Health professionals. From my experience, we are as qualified as anyone else. I don’t think we should exclude ourselves. If we are not comfortable in (a specific topic), we can direct to those who are more knowledgeable.”

Certificates of veterinary inspection

Another new policy approved by the Board concerns “Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs).”

The policy comes in response to a request for clarification around requirement for issuing CVIs made to the Council on Veterinary Services (CoVS) last year.

“The main reason for this request was because there still exists a perception among some veterinarians that companion animal veterinarians do not need to hold USDA Accreditation status to complete CVIs,” the recommendation background stated.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Veterinary Services (USDA APHIS-VS) accredits veterinarians to complete certificates of veterinary inspection and other animal movement documents.

More often CVIs are used by food animal and equine veterinarians to document that the herds or flocks they are responsible for have met all requirements for purposes of domestic or international movement. However, veterinarians who examine dogs, cats, and other pets must also fill out CVIs for patients traveling out of state or abroad.

“We need to make sure this message gets out,” said Dr. Sandra Faeh, AVMA president.

Part of the policy states: “Animals are regularly transported domestically and internationally, and CVIs are vital components to facilitate their movement, while also aiding in animal disease surveillance, prevention, traceability, and control. The United States and other countries have regulations in place governing the movement and importation of animals. These regulations protect people, animals, and ecosystems by helping to prevent the spread of diseases, pests, invasive and injurious species, and aid in epidemiological traceability of disease.”

Sheep and goat castration

The Board also approved a new policy, “Sheep and Goat Castration.”

The HOD previously discussed the proposed policy during its summer 2023 meeting, which was then referred back to the Board. It was sent back to the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) with a recommendation to include age at which castration should be performed. Delegates also requested clarification regarding the phrase “negative welfare implications.”

The AWC revised the policy to include specific recommendations on ages for the different methods of castration and removed the sentence referring to “negative welfare implications" because, as incorporated, the intent of the sentence was unclear.

The new policy states: “Male sheep and goats should be castrated as early as practicable, but after the maternal bond has been established and adequate colostrum intake achieved (i.e., after 24 hours of age). Castration can be performed using banding, Burdizzo (clamping), or surgery up to 12 weeks of age.”