Vetnews | Desember 2024 36 « BACK TO CONTENTS Health certification is an essential part of veterinary practice and is especially important in equine veterinary practice. It ensures animal welfare for sales and sporting events and facilitates movement control and export of horses. For South African equine veterinarians, navigating this task requires a thorough understanding of the legislative framework, procedural standards, and ethical obligations. This article outlines the key principles to help veterinarians understand their duties and responsibilities regarding certification. The Role of Veterinary Health Certification Veterinarians are uniquely qualified to issue health certificates due to their specialized training, clinical expertise, and ethical commitments. Certification serves as a declaration of the animal’s health and fitness. It facilitates activities such as the sale of horses and equine sporting events. It is an integral part of African Horse Sickness movement control as well as the export of horses. This privilege carries significant responsibility, as certificates are legally binding documents with the potential for serious implications if mishandled. Legislative Framework In South Africa, equine health certification is governed by several legal instruments, including: • Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, No. 19 of 1982: This Act and its Rules outline services restricted to veterinarians, including certification under Rule 2(1)(h). Rule 5 of the Rules Relating to the Practicing of Veterinary Professions deals with the requirements of veterinary certification in detail. • Animal Diseases Act, No. 35 of 1984: Regulates disease control and prevention. There are a few equine diseases that are controlled diseases with the most important being African Horse Sickness (“AHS”). Health certification for movement control purposes is a core part of AHS disease control. The AHS Control Standard Operating Procedures provide details regarding identification requirements and movement control requirements for horses in the various AHS-controlled areas. • Veterinary Procedural Notices (VPNs): Provide specific certification rules, such as VPN 17 for export certification. Veterinarians doing export certification must familiarise themselves with these requirements. • World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Standards: Although these do not apply to South African internal disease control, they set international guidelines for veterinary certification and must be taken into consideration when export certification is done. Fundamental Principles of Certification • To maintain the integrity of equine health certification, veterinarians must adhere to several principles which are also dealt with under Rule 5 of the Rules Relating to the Practicing of Veterinary Professions. These principles include: 1. Certify Only Verifiable Facts: Vets may only certify details they can personally confirm, such as clinical findings, or those supported by another professional’s certificate. Owner-provided information must be clearly identified as such and is limited to information such as the name of the horse. 2. Clarity and Accuracy: Certificates should be concise, legible, and unambiguous. Use one-page formats when possible, ensuring all fields are completed. 3. Prohibition of Certifying Future Events: Certificates must not attest to future conditions or events. 4. Positive Identification: Horses must be identified using methods like microchips, tattoos, brands, or body markings, in compliance with AHS Control SOPs. For travel documents, passports should meet the minimum standards for equine movement control. Legal Mews BACK TO BASICS: ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS WITH EQUINE CERTIFICATION Trudie Prinsloo (Legalvet Services) This article is intended to provide information and educate veterinarians on relevant aspects of the law. It is not intended as personal legal advice. SAVA is not responsible or liable for any advice or other information provided herein.
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