Veterinary Inspectors (VIs) work in a variety of roles across the Department, including in food safety, animal health and welfare, the provision of laboratory services, import controls and the certification of exports.
The Government is committed to providing support for the agri-food sector in adapting to new trading arrangements and in preparing for the further Brexit-related challenges expected later this year and in 2022.
The Department currently has 255 Veterinary Inspectors in place to deliver the range of services required across all areas of its remit and VI recruitment is continuing in light of expected demands for export certification. The number of Veterinary Inspectors engaged by my Department is expected to rise to approximately 270 by January 2022.
Additionally, the Department has scope to engage non-permanent veterinary contractors to support any short-term export certification requirements for an interim phase, whilst clear requirements are established and as a contingency for any delays while the final recruitment processes are completed.
It should be noted that veterinary inspectors are just one essential cohort of staff required for export certification and that a range of other disciplines, including technical, administrative and IT staff have been put in place to deliver this function on behalf of my Department.
