European veterinary specialists denounce alternative medicine

Abstract

On November 19, the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe (FVE) issued a policy statement urging its 200,000 members "to work only on the basis of scientifically proven and evidence-based methods and to stay away from non-evidence-based methods." The Swedish Veterinary Association banned its members from homeopathic practice decades ago, and its president stated that it is "absolutely unacceptable for vets to work without a scientific basis." UK's Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) rejects any suggestion that it supports homeopathy, but states that it takes a neutral stance. In early September the British Veterinary Association issued a statement attacking plans by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency to license homeopathic medicines without demanding clinical trials.