GR/ Veterinary Services - EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Bristol City Council Trading Standards must employ the services of a veterinary surgeon/practice in order to comply with their legal obligations with animal related legislation, which includes the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

A formal veterinary qualification must be held, as recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (“RCVS”), together with a relevant RCVS continuing professional development record can perform inspections under the regulations.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 we may request a veterinary inspector to:
• Conduct the initial or renewal inspections of licensed premises
• Provide advice to other inspectors.
• For the purposes of ensuring the licence conditions are being complied with, take samples for laboratory testing
• Produce an inspector’s report

Veterinary Surgeon/Practice must be able to deal with domestic and farmed livestock and be prepared to accompany officers on inspection and warrant executions where required.

The Veterinary Surgeon is also required to act as an Expert Witness for The Council where we are enforcing animal welfare legislation and conducting criminal investigations into cases where animals may have been exposed to unnecessary suffering. Where animals are seized, this may also require the ongoing veterinary treatment of the animal depending on location where animals are located post seizure. In order to comply with the legal obligations under the Criminal Procedure Rules and Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, expert witness Veterinary Surgeons will be asked to provide independent, impartial and unbiased evidence in relation to animal welfare offences under such legislation as The Animal Welfare Act 2006. This may require attendance at court to provide evidence including cross-examination.