ECAWBM - Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law!

14 FEBRUARY 2012

NEWSLETTER
Welcome Welcome to the first Newsletter of the Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law sub-specialty of the European College of Animal Welfare and Behaviour Medicine. On behalf of the Foundation Diplomats this newsletter has been designed to update you on progress being made at the College as well as giving you some ideas about our future plans. We would also like to solicit your continuing assistance to help us set up the specialty College. Existing de facto Diplomates are already aware of their responsibilities and we look forward to working more closely together to realise our vision. Finally, there are some notices about upcoming meetings that you may be interested in attending. The history of the sub-specialty Some 4 to 5 years ago (starting around 2006/2007) the case was made by the Foundation Diplomates who were members of the UK Animal Welfare Science, Ethics & Law Veterinary Association (AWSELVA) (at that time Sue Haslam was heavily involved) to the EBVS to establish the college. It had already been accepted as a post-graduate discipline in the UK by the RCVS at 2 levels (CertWEL and DWEL) it included the three intertwined elements of: Animal Welfare Science, Ethics, and Law. Paul Roger (AWSELVA and Small Ruminants), Nancy de Briyne (FVE) and Neil Forbes (European Board of veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) and EC Zoological Medicine) provided invaluable advice to us. The specialty of AWSEL was approved by the EBVS in April 2011. By combining AWSEL with companion animal behavioural medicine the new EU College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine (ECAWBM) with its two subspecialties (CA and AWSEL) was born.

Founda'on Diplomates
The four Foundation Diplomates of the sub-specialty Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law are: Siobhan Mullan Siobhan.Mullan@bristol.ac.uk (UK); Xavier Manteca Vilanova xavier.manteca@uab.es (Es); David Main D.C.J.Main@bristol.ac.uk (UK); and David Morton david.morton@alsatis.net (UK, Fr). Xavier is the Junior VicePresident of the College (ECAWBM) and will become President in 2015. Siobhan is

our (AWSEL) representative on the Executive Board (EB) of the parent College and she is coordinating with the EB on the next meeting in Switzerland (see below) which will incorporate the AGM. David Main is coordinating the Residencies programmes, and David Morton is Chair of the Credentials Committee. We are also supported by Nancy De Briyne nancy@fve.org who is Deputy Executive Director of the FVE and is helping us with the website. Please feel free to contact us on any matter to do with the College sub-specialty.

AWSEL will share responsibility for day-to-day administrative functions in terms of College matters (Executive Board), Finances (Finance Committee), and the Nominating Committee. Other committees will be quasi autonomous e.g. Education and Residency, Examinations with the sub-specialty committees reporting to the parent College Executive Board. In 2011/2012 the College Executive Board are: Jaume Fatjo (President); Xavier Manteca (Vice-President); Cris Osella (Secretary); Sarah Heath (Treasurer); Patrick Pageat (Past-President); and Gary Landsberg (Member without Portfolio, and informally USA liaison). ! PAGE 1

ECAWBM - Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law! De facto Members to us. We are hoping that they will help in setting up the resiStarting up a college or sub- dency programmes, where, for specialty is quite a challenge example, there may not be a vet and it is the responsibility of the school. Foundation Diplomates helped by the de facto diplomates. The Those wishing to propose assogeneral idea is that the four ciate members should contact Foundation Diplomates will ap- the Chair of the AWSEL Creprove appropriate de facto dentials Committee David Mordiplomates who will be re- ton david.morton@alsatis.net. ____________________ spected persons already established in the fields of animal welfare science, ethics and law. Residency We have therefore established a Credentials Committee (com- The new Animal welfare, ethics posed of the 4 Foundation and law Sub-college [ECAWDiplomates) that meets every 2 BM(AWSEL)] needs to develop months. To date we have 12 de a residency programme in order facto diplomates whom we are to encourage the next generation of veterinarians develop very pleased to welcome: expertise and interest in animal Bosse Algers; Andy Butter- welfare, ethics and law. The worth; Emma Fabrega; Pete Animal Behaviour part of the Goddard; Alexandra Harlander; College already has a frameAndrew Knight; Luc Mounier; work for a residency proJoy Pritchard; Paul Roger; An- gramme that with modification tonio Verlarde; James Yeates; is likely to be suitable for our purposes. We will need to deSarah Wolfensohn. fine the specific criteria for ap_______________________ proval of a programme and the likely structure of the examinaAssociate Membership tion procedure at the end of the In order to establish the sub- three year period. Crucially we specialty, the College can elect also need to think about the loAssociate Members for non- gistics of such a programme. veterinarians who have contrib- Our subject (animal welfare, uted significantly and are active ethics and law) seems unique in the fields of animal welfare amongst the veterinary specialiscience, ethics and law. The cri- ties as it does not have an easily terion is that they have to be defined and specific clinical scientists of international repute work load with an associated and we would like sub-specialty income, even though every vetmembers to make suggestions erinarian uses it as a basis for everyday practice. This means

14 FEBRUARY 2012 that we may need to be more imaginative to ensure residents can develop the necessary expertise in all three areas, as well as maintain standards. A realistic timescale should be that we have developed a residency programme by the end of 2012. This also coincides with the withdrawal of enrolment in the UK for the RCVS Diploma in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law. David Main will be organising a small group to consider these issues and develop a programme, so if you can help or have ideas on the best way forward please contact him. _________________________ Meeting in Martiny Switzerland (September 7-9). There will be parallel sessions on companion animal behavioural medicine and on animal welfare science, ethics and law. Perhaps this is an appropriate time to remind members that they are required to attend the AGM as part of their commitment to their College. Any help you can offer to Siobhan who is our meeting liaison person will be most welcome and she is setting up a small group from the de factos to devise a programme for the joint meeting. We anticipate that AWSELVA will also be involved.

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ECAWBM - Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law!

14 FEBRUARY 2012

Five Year Plan ECAWBM (AWSEL) Our plan for the next 5 years is aimed at getting our sub-speciality fully recognised by the EVBS and we have until July 2016. During that time we have to integrate with the parent College: January 2013: Residencies identified and education plan drawn up. January 2014: Roll out Residency programme January 2015: Examination Committee appointed and a review of the residency programmes and first examinations July 2016: EBVS audit

Check out our website http://www.awsel.eu/

This is our website that has already lots of important information and that will soon contain all up-to-date information about our regulations that relate to our sub-specialty (e.g. application forms, advice, committee membership) as well as links to other sites that are of special interest e.g. ethics, international law, current news, archived newsletters, AWSELVA. We may also have a discussion forum for members and notifications of upcoming meetings (but that may be better via Linked-in - do you have a view on that?)

In case you were wondering......... What is Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law?
Our specialty areas include the scientific basis for evaluating and monitoring animal welfare wherever animals and humans interact. This may include any aspect of animal use (or misuse or abuse) and any animal species. Any interaction with humans raises issues about the moral responsibilities of owners, keepers and our relationships with wild animals that are neither owned nor kept. All of these interactions raise ethical issues about how the welfare of animals is viewed and to what degree animals are exploited or their interests protected and promoted. The deontological and utilitarian bases for animal rights/human duties and animal welfare are of considerable interest as well as how our ethical values are translated into European and national legislation. We will expect our graduates to be familiar with the philosophical principles of ethics, ethical analysis including devising frameworks for decision-making, moral agency and responsibilities of humans (and animals?), and a working knowledge of other related ethical areas of concern, e.g. ethics surrounding healthcare particularly veterinary practice, veterinary practices, prejudices and their inherent inconsistencies, and other relevant ethical concerns e.g. the environment. Comparative professional ethics and etiquette are also of interest. For law we would expect a working knowledge of EU laws relating particularly to farmed and research animals, current EU concepts on labelling, international trade, and on-site evaluation of animals welfare.

AWSELVA Activities The Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Veterinary Association (AWSELVA) has existed in the UK to support vets and non-vets alike in the pursuit of our discipline since 1996. It organises two meetings a year, responds to national and international consultations, and provides a forum for stimulating discussions of the ethics of animal use, and associated laws. In response to the development of the EBVS AWSEL subspeciality, AWSELVA is willing to act as the associated society, thereby taking on a more pan-European outlook. The first activity in this exciting new role will be to organise a meeting in Martigny, Switzerland, to coincide with the College AGM on September 7th 2012. More information about AWSELVA's activities, including how to join, can be found on its new website at www.awselva.org.uk ! PAGE 3