Our Portal Official Veterinarians work at Border Control Posts (BCPs) nationwide, protecting public health by inspecting products of animal origin to ensure these are safe to enter the food chain.

Silvia Buzaljko is a Portal Official Veterinarian, working at a port in the north of England. She has worked at E&J for four years, starting as an Export OV in December 2020, before becoming team leader and account manager for one of our biggest export clients, and furthering her experience in a maternity cover role as Business Development Manager.

In April this year, she moved into our imports team as a Portal Official Veterinarian, to broaden her expertise in veterinary public health. Her role involves conducting documentary, identity and physical checks on consignments containing products of animal origin, across all relevant third country imports in accordance with assimilated EU Regulations and GB law.

Additionally, Silvia is providing support and supervision to Hull & Goole Port Health Authority’s team of Official Veterinarians to ensure that relevant regulatory requirements are delivered consistently and efficiently in accordance with approved procedures.

We sat down with Silvia to get to know more about her first few months as a Portal Official Veterinarian…

What does a typical working day as a Portal Official Veterinarian involve?

Daily tasks of a Portal OV include conducting documentary and physical checks on relevant imported goods, using different systems to complete tasks.

We keep close communication with our colleagues doing the same shift at Hull port to ensure consistency in our approach. As part of the Port Health Authority, we work closely with Port Health Inspectors and Officers who generously offer their assistance and expertise. According to demands, we also combine efforts with other authorities at the port, to ensure tasks are completed.

Communication and collaboration are a big part of the role, and we collaborate closely with our National Technical Lead and learn by discussing the different scenarios we encounter with the wider team. We also work with various stakeholders in the imports chain and communicate any challenging situations that require high level input to our central competent authority – Defra.

No two days are the same and this position provides a unique opportunity to broaden my expertise in public health.

What are the challenges?

One of the key challenges is adapting communication to a wide range of stakeholders. Every decision must be carefully considered to maintain professionalism and accuracy. Additionally, staying updated and adapting to constant changes in trade and internal processes requires a high level of flexibility and attention to detail.

Managing a busy workload and balancing tasks is key, especially with the introduction of official controls on goods being imported from the EU.

What do you enjoy most about your role? What do you find rewarding?

What I really enjoy about my role is the constant challenge. I love that things are always changing – it keeps me on my toes and fits with who I am as a person.

I work with a great team of vets and tackling problems together gives me a strong sense of accomplishment and I enjoy diving into the technical details of each task.

In my previous role, contributing to a larger goal and seeing the impact of my work was what I found fulfilling. I have no doubt this role will be similarly fulfilling, as I gain experience and grow into my new position.

Have you seen any changes within the industry/within your role?

I have experienced numerous legislative changes that significantly impacted our work, including Brexit, the introduction of the Windsor Framework and the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model. These changes have taught me the importance of being proactive and flexible in the face of change, as it is often difficult to anticipate the challenges that may arise.

How does your current role differ from previous positions you’ve held at E&J?

While previous roles I’ve had at E&J contributed to my confidence and gave me valuable insight into the intricacies of trade, my new role allows me to see a different side of trade, requiring me to apply my skills in different ways and manage a wider range of priorities.

All the roles I’ve had within the company have required balancing multiple responsibilities simultaneously, being adaptable and considering nuanced factors.

Why is the role of veterinary professionals so important?

Veterinarians play a crucial role in the One Health concept, directly or indirectly contributing to public health goals and outcomes. Animal and human health go hand in hand, and veterinarians are the first line of defence.

Veterinarians possess a broad range of knowledge and our expertise spans across various disciplines.

Interested in a role with us? For more about the career opportunities we offer, visit our Join the Team page.