2024-04-042023/24:MJU11 · p.11MJUEnvironment & agriculture
Veterinarians and animal health care
Measures to address the veterinarian shortage and resources in animal healthcare
What's at stake: The decision affects access to veterinary care for animal owners and farmers across the country, particularly in rural areas, where reduced emergency preparedness in the evenings, at night and on weekends would hit hardest.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether parliament should now decide on further measures against the veterinarian shortage - such as more training places or guaranteed round-the-clock emergency preparedness - or whether it should await the government's forthcoming bill on animal healthcare.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions on veterinarians and animal healthcare. The reason is that the number of training places for veterinarians and veterinary nurses at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences has already been increased, that issues including veterinary emergency preparedness and the admissions system for veterinary education are addressed in the inquiry SOU 2022:58, and that the government has announced a bill on improved conditions for animal healthcare to parliament in April 2024. Pending the bill, the motions are left without further action.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 6 (S)
The reservation (S) calls for further, concrete measures against the veterinarian shortage beyond the training investments and the review of the veterinary market already carried out, and specifically warns against the inquiry's proposal to remove veterinary emergency preparedness in the evenings, at night and on weekends, which would hit farmers and horse owners in rural areas hard.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 6 by S.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/90/0/16 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 13/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 14/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 57/0/0/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/63/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2023/24:374 by Beatrice Timgren et al. (SD) request 37, 2023/24:403 by Staffan Eklöf et al. (SD) request 32, 2023/24:974 by Alexandra Anstrell (M) requests 1-4, 2023/24:1078 by Carina Ödebrink et al. (S), 2023/24:2479 by Daniel Bäckström et al. (C) request 5 and 2023/24:2628 by Anna-Caren Sätherberg et al. (S) requests 43 and 44.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:374 av Beatrice Timgren m.fl. (SD) yrkande 37, 2023/24:403 av Staffan Eklöf m.fl. (SD) yrkande 32, 2023/24:974 av Alexandra Anstrell (M) yrkandena 1-4, 2023/24:1078 av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S), 2023/24:2479 av Daniel Bäckström m.fl. (C) yrkande 5 och 2023/24:2628 av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S) yrkandena 43 och 44.
Riksdag decision: The government should investigate how the rules for local smaller slaughterhouses can be simplified. This is what Parliament means and therefore decided to direct a formal request, an appeal, to the government about it. The government should also investigate what additional measures are needed to increase the number of small-scale slaughterhouses and mobile slaughterhouses, that is, movable facilities that are transported to the farm, where the slaughter is carried out. Parliament means that this would counteract long transports of animals to slaughter, as well as contribute to supporting local and small-scale agriculture. Furthermore, Parliament sees that it would enable animal husbandry in more parts of the country and increase the supply of locally produced food. The formal request was made when Parliament dealt with approximately 160 proposals in motions about animal welfare from the general motion period of 2023. Parliament said no to the other motions.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants animal transport times to be strictly limited and reduced. (S) — Reservation 6
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The election manifesto requires that welfare and public services must exist everywhere and that rural areas must not be depleted, and lists the services that must remain in smaller places.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that welfare and public services must exist everywhere and that rural areas must not be depleted, and lists the services that must remain in smaller places. Cutting back veterinary readiness in evenings, nights and weekends goes directly against that line and affects farmers and animal owners in rural areas. The party programme's requirement that animals must be given a good life furthermore presupposes functioning veterinary care.
Original (Swedish)
Valplattformen kräver att välfärd och samhällsservice ska finnas överallt och att landsbygden inte utarmas, och räknar upp den service som måste finnas kvar på mindre orter. Att dra in veterinär beredskap kvällar, nätter och helger går rakt emot den linjen och drabbar lantbrukare och djurägare på landsbygden. Partiprogrammets krav på att djur ska ges ett gott liv förutsätter dessutom en fungerande djursjukvård.
- services throughout the countrydecisive»Välfärden måste vara till för alla och finnas överallt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Welfare must be available to everyone and exist everywhere.”
- rural areas must not be depleted»Oavsett var i landet vi bor så har vi ett gemensamt intresse av att landsbygden inte utarmas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regardless of where in the country we live we have a common interest in rural areas not being depleted.”
- public services in small places»Äldreomsorg, förskola, skola och matbutik behöver finnas på fler mindre orter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Elderly care, preschool, school and grocery stores need to exist in more small places.”
- animal health a responsibility»All djurhållning ska därför utgå från att djur är kännande varelser« (party programme ↗)“All animal husbandry must therefore be based on the understanding that animals are sentient beings”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that the state shall be present across the entire country and has a responsibility to secure skills supply, and that all regions shall be offered good living conditions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the state shall be present across the entire country and has a responsibility to secure skills supply, and that all regions shall be offered good living conditions. To counteract veterinary shortage and value preparedness evenings, nights and weekends in rural areas follows from this. The plan's principle of ethical animal husbandry also presupposes that animals can get care when they need it.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att staten ska finnas närvarande i hela landet och har ett ansvar för att säkra kompetensförsörjningen, samt att alla regioner ska erbjuda goda levnadsvillkor. Att motverka veterinärbristen och värna beredskapen kvällar, nätter och helger på landsbygden följer av det. Planens princip om etisk djurhållning förutsätter dessutom att djur kan få vård när de behöver den.
- state presence across the entire countrydecisive»Staten ska finnas närvarande i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state shall be present across the entire country.”
- state's responsibility for skills supply»Staten har ett ansvar för att säkra kompetensförsörjningen, inte minst i välfärden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state has a responsibility to secure skills supply, not least in welfare.”
- good conditions in all regions»förutsättningar för arbete, företagande och studier samt erbjuda goda levnadsvillkor« (party programme ↗)“conditions for work, business and studies as well as offer good living conditions”
- ethical animal husbandry»och etisk djurhållning är grundprinciper« (party programme ↗)“and ethical animal husbandry are basic principles”
The party programme establishes that public services should be available throughout the country and that Sweden should have viable agriculture throughout the country.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that public services should be available throughout the country and that Sweden should have viable agriculture throughout the country. Compliance with animal welfare legislation must improve, which requires adequate veterinary capacity, and those working with animals must have good knowledge. Measures against the veterinary shortage and maintained on-call readiness in rural areas follow from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att samhällsfunktioner ska finnas tillgängliga över hela landet och att Sverige ska ha ett livskraftigt jordbruk i hela landet. Djurskyddslagens efterlevnad måste förbättras, vilket förutsätter tillräcklig veterinärkapacitet, och de som arbetar med djur måste ha god kunskap. Åtgärder mot veterinärbristen och bevarad jourberedskap på landsbygden följer av dessa åtaganden.
- public services throughout the countrydecisive»Samhällsfunktioner som polis, arbetsförmedling och försäkringskassa ska vara till för Sveriges alla invånare och finnas tillgängliga över hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Public services such as police, employment agency and social insurance office should serve all Sweden's residents and be available throughout the country.”
- better compliance with animal welfare»Ambitionerna i djurskyddslagstiftningen speglas inte fullt ut i verkligheten, och lagens efterlevnad måste förbättras.« (party programme ↗)“The ambitions in animal welfare legislation are not fully reflected in reality, and compliance with the law must be improved.”
- viable agriculture throughout the country»Sverige ska ha ett livskraftigt jordbruk i hela landet med god konkurrenskraft.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden should have viable agriculture throughout the country with good competitiveness.”
- competence of animal staff»De som jobbar med djur måste ha god kunskap om djurs beteenden.« (party programme ↗)“Those who work with animals must have good knowledge about animal behaviour.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto requires public services to be close and reliable throughout the country and rural conditions to be strengthened, which affects veterinary on-call emergency services evenings, nights and weekends.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires public services to be close and reliable throughout the country and rural conditions to be strengthened, which affects veterinary on-call emergency services evenings, nights and weekends. Without such readiness, farmers and horse owners are directly affected, and the plan's commitment to a more competitive agriculture is hollowed out. Further measures against the veterinary shortage therefore align with the plan's direction.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att offentlig service ska vara nära och pålitlig i hela landet och att landsbygdens villkor stärks, vilket träffar veterinär jourberedskap kvällar, nätter och helger. Utan sådan beredskap drabbas lantbrukare och hästägare direkt, och planens åtagande om ett mer konkurrenskraftigt jordbruk urholkas. Ytterligare åtgärder mot veterinärbristen ligger därför i planens linje.
- reliable service throughout the countrydecisive»Offentlig service ska vara nära och pålitlig i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Public services should be close and reliable throughout the country.”
- competitive agriculture»Sverige behöver ett ännu mer konkurrenskraftigt jordbruk.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs an even more competitive agriculture.”
- responsibility for animal welfare»Ett tydligt ansvarstagande och respekt för djur och natur« (party programme ↗)“Clear responsibility-taking and respect for animals and nature”
- conditions for agriculture»Det svenska lantbrukets konkurrenskraft, både inom EU och gentemot övriga världen, ska förstärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish agriculture's competitiveness, both within the EU and versus the rest of the world, should be strengthened.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan promises that state agencies shall be present in all parts of Sweden and that access to state services shall be secured throughout the country.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan promises that state agencies shall be present in all parts of Sweden and that access to state services shall be secured throughout the country. A veterinary on-call service that disappears in the evenings, nights and weekends in rural areas conflicts with that commitment. The requirement for humane animal husbandry moreover requires that animal health care is actually accessible.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lovar att statliga myndigheter ska finnas närvarande i alla delar av Sverige och att tillgången till statlig service ska säkras i hela landet. En veterinär jourberedskap som försvinner på kvällar, nätter och helger på landsbygden strider mot det åtagandet. Kravet på en värdig djurhållning förutsätter dessutom att djursjukvård faktiskt går att nå.
- state presence throughout the countrydecisive»Vägnätet ska fungera och statliga myndigheter ska finnas närvarande i alla delar av Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The road network shall function and state agencies shall be present in all parts of Sweden.”
- secured services throughout the country»Tillgången till statlig service ska säkras i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Access to state services shall be secured throughout the country.”
- humane animal husbandry»All djurhållning måste garantera djuren ett värdigt liv och en anständig död.« (party programme ↗)“All animal husbandry must guarantee animals a dignified life and a decent death.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto promises regulatory changes and cost relief for Swedish agriculture and establishes that all of Sweden shall function and that it shall be possible to live and work outside the major cities.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises regulatory changes and cost relief for Swedish agriculture and establishes that all of Sweden shall function and that it shall be possible to live and work outside the major cities. The party programme requires that each municipality and region be a functioning society where basic services are provided. That countering veterinary shortage and maintaining veterinary readiness evenings, nights and weekends in rural areas follows from these commitments, as does the requirement that animal health shall be promoted.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar regeländringar och kostnadslättnader för svenskt lantbruk och slår fast att hela Sverige ska fungera och att det ska gå att bo och verka utanför de stora städerna. Principprogrammet kräver att varje kommun och region är ett fungerande samhälle där grundläggande service tillgodoses. Att motverka veterinärbristen och värna veterinär beredskap kvällar, nätter och helger på landsbygden följer av dessa åtaganden, liksom av kravet att djurens hälsa ska främjas.
- strengthened Swedish agriculturedecisive»Regeländringar och kostnadslättnader för svenskt lantbruk för att öka Sveriges självförsörjning och stärka lantbrukets konkurrenskraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regulatory changes and cost relief for Swedish agriculture to increase Sweden's self-sufficiency and strengthen agriculture's competitiveness.”
- basic services across the country»Målet är att hela Sverige ska leva och att varje kommun och region ska vara ett fungerande samhälle, där människor kan få sina grundläggande behov av arbete och service tillgodosedda.« (party programme ↗)“The goal is for all of Sweden to thrive and for each municipality and region to be a functioning society, where people can have their fundamental needs for work and service met.”
- animal health shall be promoted»Vid djurhållning ska också djurens hälsa främjas och hänsyn tas till djurens fysiologiska och beteendemässiga behov.« (party programme ↗)“In animal husbandry, animal health shall also be promoted and attention shall be paid to animals' physiological and behavioural needs.”
- thriving countryside»Hela Sverige ska fungera och det ska gå att bo och verka även utanför de stora städerna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All of Sweden shall function and it shall be possible to live and work also outside the major cities.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan undertakes a national coordination of society's need for education places precisely to solve the skills shortage, which is at the heart of the veterinary shortage.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan undertakes a national coordination of society's need for education places precisely to solve the skills shortage, which is at the heart of the veterinary shortage. It also states that all of Sweden must function for it to be possible to live and work throughout the country, and wants to strengthen agriculture and preparedness in animal production. Further measures against the veterinary shortage, including preserved emergency call readiness in the countryside, thus follow from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig en nationell samordning av samhällets behov av utbildningsplatser just för att lösa kompetensförsörjningen, vilket är kärnan i veterinärbristen. Den slår också fast att hela Sverige måste fungera för att det ska gå att bo och verka i hela landet, och vill stärka jordbruket och beredskapen i animalieproduktionen. Ytterligare åtgärder mot veterinärbristen, inklusive bevarad jourberedskap på landsbygden, följer därför av planen.
- coordinated skills provisiondecisive»Få på plats en nationell samordning över samhällets behov av antalet utbildningsplatser för att förbättra kompetensförsörjningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Get into place a national coordination over society's need for the number of education places to improve skills provision”
- all of Sweden must function»Moderaterna vill ta vara på hela Sveriges möjligheter. Men ska det gå att bo och verka i hela Sverige måste också hela Sverige fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate Party wants to use all of Sweden's opportunities. But if it is to be possible to live and work throughout Sweden, all of Sweden must also function.”
- strengthened agriculture»Stärka jordbruket för att öka den inhemska produktionen av livsmedel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen agriculture to increase domestic food production”
- preparedness in animal production»Ta fram en plan för hur animalieproduktion och växtodling ska kunna bedrivas vid höjd beredskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Draw up a plan for how animal production and crop production can be conducted at heightened readiness”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that policy shall be conducted for the whole of Sweden and that Swedish farmers shall have good working conditions, while animal welfare shall be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that policy shall be conducted for the whole of Sweden and that Swedish farmers shall have good working conditions, while animal welfare shall be strengthened. The counter-proposal's requirements for more action against the veterinary shortage and the warning against removing veterinary on-call services evenings, nights and weekends in the countryside align with this. The plan therefore supports the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att politiken ska bedrivas för hela Sverige och att svenska bönder ska ha goda arbetsvillkor, samtidigt som djurskyddet ska stärkas. Motförslagets krav på fler åtgärder mot veterinärbristen och varningen för att ta bort veterinär beredskap kvällar, nätter och helger på landsbygden ligger i linje med detta. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- public service in the whole countrydecisive»Bedriva en politik för hela Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Conduct policy for the whole of Sweden”
- good conditions for farmers»Det är också viktigt att svenska bönder har goda arbetsvillkor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is also important that Swedish farmers have good working conditions.”
- strengthened animal welfare»Sverigedemokraterna vill ha ett stärkt djurskydd där större hänsyn tas till djurens naturliga beteende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want strengthened animal welfare where greater consideration is given to animals' natural behaviour.”
- agriculture's conditions»Öka det svenska jordbrukets konkurrenskraft och Sveriges självförsörjning av livsmedel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase Swedish agriculture's competitiveness and Sweden's self-sufficiency in food”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:MJU11)
- Committee report full text (HB01MJU11)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1078 — Veterinärutbildning av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1089 — Förbud mot vilda djur på cirkus och valar i fångenskap av Markus Wiechel och Victoria Tiblom (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1090 — Antibiotikaresistens av Markus Wiechel och Victoria Tiblom (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1093 — En moderniserad hantering av tamdjur av Markus Wiechel och Victoria Tiblom (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1094 — Djur inom livsmedelsindustrin av Markus Wiechel och Victoria Tiblom (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1095 — Slakt av Markus Wiechel och Victoria Tiblom (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1097 — Privatisering av distriktsveterinärverksamheten av Markus Wiechel och Victoria Tiblom (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1280 — Utfasning av djurförsök av Ulrika Heindorff (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1365 — Underlättat regelverk för hemslakt och försäljning av kött från den egna gården av Anna-Belle Strömberg och Peter Hedberg (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1399 — Trygga hundtransporter av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1525 — Utfasning av turbokycklingar av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1531 — Att förebygga och begränsa spridning av afrikansk svinpest av Marie Nicholson m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1757 — Avlivning av djur enligt djurskyddslagen (2018:1192) av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1758 — En ny kostnadsmodell för veterinärvård av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1767 — Förbud mot försäljning av fjädrar av fågeldun av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1851 — Artskydd för varg och hund av Isak From och Monica Haider (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1872 — Åtgärder för att hindra spridning av afrikansk svinpest och andra sjukdomar av Emma Nohrén och Jacob Risberg (båda MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1949 — Förprövningen av djurstallar av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1956 — Kornas rätt till bete och utevistelse av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2011 — Förbud mot burhållning av hönor i Sverige av Magnus Manhammar (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament