Accreditation of private practitioners for government contracting

Position statement

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) recognises that services provided by government and private veterinarians must be complementary. This enables optimal use of national veterinary resources.

Background

In many countries, the government employs private veterinarians for government veterinary duties. Such veterinarians are formally authorised by the veterinary administration of the country concerned. Local Veterinary Inspectors (LVIs) in the United Kingdom and Accredited Veterinarians in the United States are examples.

Private practitioners authorised by the national veterinary administration are provided for in the International Animals Health Code of the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health, formerly Office International des Epizooties). This Code is recognised by the World Trade Organization and is the norm for international trade in animals and animal products.

The Veterinary Committee (composed of the Chief Veterinary Officers from the Commonwealth, states and territories in Australia, New Zealand’s Chief Veterinary Officer, and a CSIRO representative), through the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) and Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (CCEAD), has developed a program for accreditation of private practitioners working in the national animal health system. This program supports the international standing of the animal health system. Known as the Accreditation Program for Australian Veterinarians (APAV), the program is now managed by Animal Health Australia.

APAV is designed in two parts — an ‘accreditation’ process to provide veterinarians with the basic information needed to participate in government and industry animal disease programs, and an ‘operational’ process to provide them with the specific knowledge and skills to participate in one or more of the programs requiring accredited veterinarians.

There are (in July 2006) eight recognised operational programs under APAV. They are:

• Australian Johne’s Disease Market Assurance Program for Alpaca (AlpacaMAP)
• Australian Johne’s Disease Market Assurance Program for Cattle (CattleMAP)
• Australian Johne’s Disease Market Assurance Program for Sheep (SheepMAP)
• Australian Johne’s Disease Market Assurance Program for Goats (GoatMAP)
• Victorian Johne’s Disease Agreed Test and Control Program
• Victorian Enzootic Bovine Leucosis Control Program
• South Australian Enzootic Bovine Leucosis Control Program
• AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) Accredited Export Veterinarian Program (AAVet)

APAV provides opportunities for veterinarians to attain additional skills and experience and provides governments with skills, expertise and regional availability. It may also assist the viability of rural practices. APAV accreditation is also a prerequisite for membership of the Australian Veterinary Reserve.

Date of ratification by AVA Board 12 May 2001