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EPA 16: Public health protection and policy support

This EPA focuses on how veterinary professionals protect health at individual, community and national levels through evidence-based policy work.

Description

Developing and applying policy in animal health and veterinary practice is how we maintain and advance standards across the whole industry.  We work closely with groups such as farmers, pet owners, food business operators, consumers, government departments, human healthcare professionals, and our trading partners.

This work protects our national disease status, supports food security and trade. It ensures we can apply evidence-based responses to emerging health threats.

Policy development also enables the One Health approach at local, national, and international levels. It drives ever better practice through continuous improvement and innovation.

Whether you work in practice, charities, industry, or government, you'll contribute to policy in some way. This might involve applying existing legislation, contributing to policy development, or both. The scope ranges from daily practice activities to formal stakeholder consultation and engagement with government processes. 

Success criteria

To meet the requirements for this EPA, you will need to have effectively contributed to the development and/or application of policy related to animal health and welfare, public health and One Health.

This could be through:

  • The relevant professional contributions of any veterinary surgeon during daily activities
  • Civil Service roles
  • Delivering statutory obligations
  • Your involvement in working groups, government stakeholder engagement processes or initiatives
  • Application of legislation in relation to animal identification, animal health and welfare, and disease control, for example:
  • TB or avian influenza controls
  • Pet microchipping
  • Farmed animals husbandry
  • Involvement in the annual vet visit for the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway or its continued development
  • Official controls in abattoirs, farms and transport
  • Case complexities relevant to your role, for example: a logical and systematic approach to dental examination which includes imaging and knowledge of preventative treatments
  • Farm vet visit attestations to support exports

Required competencies

This EPA aligns with the following RCVS Day One Competences:

Veterinary capability

  • Individual animal
  • Animal population care and management
  • One health/public health

Reflective relationships

  • Communication
  • Collaboration

Professional commitment

  • Leadership in thoughts and actions

Personal leadership

  • Adaptability
  • Professionalism

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