December 17, 2009

USDA amends veterinary accreditation programme

The National Veterinary Accreditation Programme (NVAP) will be revised to strengthen US animal health safeguarding activities.

The changes will also increase the training and skills of accredited veterinarians in disease prevention and preparedness for animal health emergencies, said the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

The new programme creates two accreditation categories based on the species on which accredited duties will be performed in place of a former single category. It includes requirements for supplemental online training to ensure accredited veterinarians receive the latest information necessary to support APHIS' animal health safeguarding efforts.

The revisions also call for accreditation to be renewed every three years where previously accreditation did not require renewal. The renewal requirement ensures that accredited veterinarians will have the most up-to-date information on foreign animal and zoonotic diseases and the risks associated with them. The NVAP also will offer programme certifications that will allow veterinarians to participate in programme-specific APHIS activities.

Another important change under the new regulations is that veterinarians accredited before February 1, 2010, must apply to continue their accreditation in the revised program. If they do not apply, their accreditation will expire.

The regulation has received support from the major animal health organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, the US Animal Health Association and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.

The programme is voluntary but more than 80% of all US veterinarians, or about 71,000, are accredited. Being part of the NVAP allows private sector veterinarians to offer additional services to their clients such as certifying animal and herd health.