Trade In Wild Birds Ban Welcomed

Welcoming today (Tuesday) the news that the wild-caught bird trade is to be permanently banned throughout the EU because of fears for animal and human health, BVA President David Catlow paid tribute to the contribution made to the debate by the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA AWF) and in particular Trustee Sean Wensley. The BVA first called for the ban last July, with the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) announcing its support of the BVA’s position in October. Subsequently Mr Wensley had presented the BVA/FVE position on the importation of captive birds at meetings with the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumer Affairs (DG Sanco) and the Environment Directorate General as well as to meetings and seminars with MEPs. Key points covered at the various meetings had included the fact that the current trade ban had resulted in a decrease in smuggling and confiscations; that captive breeding in third countries could allow sustainable trade; that the bird trade was associated with unacceptably high mortality rates; and that current enforcement procedures were inadequate. “Disease risk and severely compromised animal welfare” said Mr Wensley “were key factors in determining the trade’s future. As core concerns of the veterinary profession, the debate would have been missing an informed and authoritative input on these areas had it not been for the support from the BVA AWF, the BVA, and, in Europe, the FVE. It was a great collaborative success for the birds.”

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