Principles of Certification Flashcards
Examples of what can result in you being removed from the register
a) Serious departure from professional standards as set out in the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct;
b) Causing serious harm (or causing a risk of serious harm) to animals or the public, particularly where there is a breach of trust;
c) Offences of a sexual nature;
d) Offences involving violence and/or loss of human life; e.g. car
e) Evidence of a harmful deep-seated personality or attitude problem
a) Fitness to practise investigations - not caring
b) Low grade “not giving a shit”
f) Dishonesty (including false certification), particularly where persistent or concealed
If you don’t demonstrate professional integrity what could happen?
MRCVS taken away
What should you always be thinking of when doing the principles of certification
- CAUTION
- CLARITY – always look for clarity, do you understand what is required of you and is it clear?
- CERTAINTY – only certifying things I know for certain, not what someone else has told me
- CHALLENGE – open to challenge in a court of law. Can I defend what I have done
How many principles of certification are there?
10
Principle 1:
• A veterinarian should certify only those matters which:
– a) are within his or her own knowledge;
– b) can be ascertained by him or her personally; or
– c) are the subject of supporting evidence from an authorised veterinarian who has personal knowledge of the matters in question; or
– d) are the subject of checks carried out by a registered, trained and competent Certification Support Officer (CSO). (Note: this applies only to certification for export of animal products excluding germinal products)
• allows non vets who have been appropriately trained to sign
Overall CANNOT certify anything that you don’t know – you don’t know if farmer is correctly following X if its just word of mouth- or an authorised vet or CSO
Veterinarian may attest matters on the basis of a declaration by another person e.g. the exporter or their agent, a farmer, transporter, animal health officer or food business operators.
Matters not within the knowledge of a veterinarian and not the subject of supporting evidence but known to other persons, e.g. the farmer or transporter as above, should be the subject of a declaration by those persons only.
The form of declaration may vary from a simple signed statement to a sworn affidavit depending on the significance of what is being certified and the requirements of the Competent Authority.
Veterinarians should retain copies of any declarations and make a record of any checks or procedures undertaken to corroborate these declarations, where appropriate.
Principle 2:
Veterinarians should not issue a certificate that might raise questions of a possible conflict of interest. (shouldn’t’ be under commercial or financial pressure to do so)
– Veterinarians signing certificates should not allow commercial, financial or other pressures to compromise their impartiality.
– In the context of Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) Intra Trade Animal Health Certificates (ITAHCs), veterinarians should not certify where they own or part own either a business producing a commodity for export or the commodity to be exported, or are a salaried employee of the business
– Defra advised that treatment/certification to meet PETS requirements should be carried out by a qualified veterinarian who is not the owner of the pet.
– Vets working for Semen companies? surely pressure
– Doing University farm TB test?
Principle of certification 3:
•A veterinarian should only sign certificates that are written in a language they understand
what if not in your language?
certificates may be accompanied by an official translation of the certificate into a language of the country of ultimate destination. Translated certificates are only a requirement if specifically requested by the country of destination.
Principle 4 A veterinarian should not certify that there has been compliance with the law of another country or jurisdiction unless the provisions of that law are set out clearly on the certificate or have been provided to them by the Competent Authority in writing.
– Veterinarians should read and understand any Notes for Guidance or supporting material issued by the Competent Authority. If there is any ambiguity, the veterinarian should seek advice from the Competent Authority on how to proceed.
Principle 5 • A veterinarian should only sign original certificates. Where there is a legal or official requirement for a certified copy or duplicate (marked as such, write copy/ duplicate/ replacement) these can be provided.
– Veterinarians may need to provide certified copies or duplicates where originals have been damaged or lost (e.g. where damage has occurred during transit). Where a copy or replacement is provided or retained it must be clearly marked COPY or DUPLICATE or REPLACEMENT, as appropriate and in accordance with any Notes for Guidance or advice from the Competent Authority. Where practicable the veterinarian should ensure that the certificate being replaced is surrendered, withdrawn or destroyed (if requested) or clearly identified as to its revised status, as appropriate and in accordance with any Notes for Guidance or advice from the Competent Authority.
– Where veterinarians become aware that the certificate should not have been issued or is no longer true, they must withdraw or cancel the certificate, identify the copies accordingly, and inform the affected parties of their action as soon as reasonably practicable.
– Copies should also be provided to the Competent Authority.
PRINCIPLE 6:
• When signing a certificate, a veterinarian should ensure that:
– a) the certificate contains no deletions or alterations (can’t cross out bits out), other than those which are indicated on the certificate to be permissible, and subject to such changes being initialled and stamped by the certifying veterinarian;
– b) no section of the certificate is left incomplete;
• e.g. time missing
• Don’t bend the rules because something might happen e.g. lorry breaks down.
– c) the certificate includes not only their signature but also, in clear lettering, their name, qualifications and address and (where appropriate) their official or practice stamps; must be legible
– d) the certificate includes the date on which the certificate was signed and issued and (where appropriate) the time for which the certificate will remain valid.
Principle 8
Certificates should be
• Certificates should be:
– a) clear and concise;
– b) integrated, whole and indivisible;
– c) given a unique identifier; (becomes issue as if balls it up you cant just get another one) and
– d) copied and retained with all relevant records.
• Certificates that include more than one page may need to be ‘fan stamped’ with a unique identifier on each page in order to create a tamper proof composite document. Veterinarians should comply with any Notes for Guidance or supporting material issued by the Competent Authority about such requirements.
• Veterinarians should retain copies of certificates for their own records and provide copies to the Competent Authority, as required.
Principle9
• Certificates should not use words or phrases which are capable of more than one interpretation.
e.g. heifer - claf or not?
Hog - sheep or pig?
Principle 10
• Certificates should clearly identify the subject being certified.
– Specific ear teg?? Microchip?? Day old chicks aren’t identifiable as individuals
– There are some exceptions to this general rule, specifically cases where it is impractical to identify the subject (for example, day old chicks). Veterinarians must also comply with any Notes for Guidance from the Competent Authority on identification as there may be specific advice on how identification should be carried out and recorded. (See 21.30 to 21.33 below for general advice on identification of animals).
Vaccination record card. horse out of date by one day pls sign
DO NOT DO IT!!!!!
Can get suspended or struck off!!!
May save the owner £30 but you being struck off for 3 months will cost you more than £30!
Never trust a client, may snitch when you have a falling out alter down the line
FEI horse vaccination requirements
- Horses must have been vaccinated within 6 months +21 days of arriving at the Event however they cannot compete if they have been vaccinated within 7 days of arriving at an event venue.
- Minimum booster frequency is one year from previous booster
- This is different from the authorised pharmacological data for the vaccines – usually every year, one claims 15 month protection after 2 weeks of injection.
