Part 16 - Environment and conservation Introduction Veterinarians have been active in broad, high-profile environmental and conservation issues. These include preservation and rescue of native fauna, control of feral animals and preservation of biodiversity through artificial breeding techniques. The expertise of the veterinary profession has also contributed to important environmental gains for humans and domestic and wild animals through veterinary public health, animal quarantine services and disease control and surveillance. State and federal veterinary services, often with the assistance of private practitioners, have played major roles in the development of a competent and professional meat inspection program. This program protects the Australian people from microbiological pathogens and chemical and biological residues, and protects the environment from gross microbiological contamination by requiring the hygienic disposal of abattoir wastes. The national animal quarantine service has operated since 1908 to protect the Australian environment from a wide range of introduced hazards, including exotic animals, birds and insects. The program has become a model for neighbouring countries seeking to protect their environments from similar hazards. The Australian veterinary profession has managed programs that have effectively removed several major diseases of animals from our environment. These include contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, bovine brucellosis, rinderpest and bovine tuberculosis. The profession has often led the world in developing vaccines to control other diseases to the point where they are no longer hazards for humans or animals. The debate on the environment is fluid, and the agenda is often set by irrational considerations. The veterinary profession is able to participate in and inform the debate through its expertise in the natural sciences and understanding of the interdependence of biological components of the environment. Australian Veterinary Association () policies reflect both our current dependence on traditional approaches to these problems and the desire to innovate, change and improve. Members are encouraged to bring to the attention of the association areas that may need critical assessment for environmental impact and consequent policy development by the Policy Council. Date of ratification by Board: 1 Jan 1997 (Reviewed, 2013)
Part 16 - Environment and conservation Introduction Veterinarians have been active in broad, high-profile environmental and conservation issues. These include preservation and rescue of native fauna, control of feral animals and preservation of biodiversity through artificial breeding techniques. The expertise of the veterinary profession has also contributed to important environmental gains for humans and domestic and wild animals through veterinary public health, animal quarantine services and disease control and surveillance. State and federal veterinary services, often with the assistance of private practitioners, have played major roles in the development of a competent and professional meat inspection program. This program protects the Australian people from microbiological pathogens and chemical and biological residues, and protects the environment from gross microbiological contamination by requiring the hygienic disposal of abattoir wastes. The national animal quarantine service has operated since 1908 to protect the Australian environment from a wide range of introduced hazards, including exotic animals, birds and insects. The program has become a model for neighbouring countries seeking to protect their environments from similar hazards. The Australian veterinary profession has managed programs that have effectively removed several major diseases of animals from our environment. These include contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, bovine brucellosis, rinderpest and bovine tuberculosis. The profession has often led the world in developing vaccines to control other diseases to the point where they are no longer hazards for humans or animals. The debate on the environment is fluid, and the agenda is often set by irrational considerations. The veterinary profession is able to participate in and inform the debate through its expertise in the natural sciences and understanding of the interdependence of biological components of the environment. Australian Veterinary Association () policies reflect both our current dependence on traditional approaches to these problems and the desire to innovate, change and improve. Members are encouraged to bring to the attention of the association areas that may need critical assessment for environmental impact and consequent policy development by the Policy Council. Date of ratification by Board: 1 Jan 1997 (Reviewed, 2013)