BVA welcomes hot branding ban in Scotland

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has endorsed the Scottish government's decision to ban the hot branding of horses and ponies.

Professor Bill Reilly, president of the BVA, described the move as a "very important decision" for animal welfare and expressed hope that the rest of the UK will soon follow suit.

The decision comes following lobbying from both the BVA and the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), stating that the practice – used to differentiate between different animal breeds – is inhumane and painful.

Moreover, it has been a legal requirement since July 2010 for all horses and ponies to be microchipped, which makes the process of branding unnecessary.

Dr Madeleine Campbell, president of BEVA, said: "This technique is clearly no longer justifiable on welfare grounds and we are very pleased that the Scottish government has listened to our concerns."

Earlier this month, the BVA called on European lawmakers to impose mandatory animal welfare labelling on all meat products sold in the EU.