Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has announced the formation of a new independent advisory group to recommend a future delivery model for veterinary surveillance in England and Wales.

The Advisory Group will be chaired by Dirk…

The badger culls planned to take place in West Somerset and West Gloucestershire this year have been postponed until 2013.

The postponement came at the request of The National Farmers Union (NFU), following new survey results which revealed higher than…

Dog owners who allow their dog to attack people or assistance dogs will face tougher prison sentences from today.

Changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act will also mean dog owners can now face prosecution if their dog attacks a person in their home or on any…

The RCVS reports that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has now finalised the new microchip regulations for England, which include a provision that dog breeders and other individuals who wish to implant microchips and have…

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on reforming the governance arrangements of the RCVS.

The consultation follows a period of discussions between the RCVS and Defra about how the College might…

From today, porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) is a notifiable disease in England; veterinary surgeons and pig-keepers are now legally required to inform the Animal and Plant Health Agency of any suspicion of the disease.

If a test for PED proves positive…

Defra has announced a consultation which seeks to strengthen the regulations around dog breeding and pet sales in order to improve animal welfare.

The consultation proposes to make it a requirement for anyone producing three more more litters a year…

Defra has rejected the RCVS petition to protect the VN title, saying that criminalising the use of the term 'veterinary nurse' by other animal carers in a veterinary setting would be unduly harsh.

In rejecting the petition, which had gained nearly…

The BSAVA is highlighting the public consultation currently being carried out by Defra as part of its review of UK legislation concerning the Pet Travel Scheme, and encouraging members of the profession and clients to take part.

Specifically, the review…

The Chief Veterinary Officer has declared a Prevention Zone to help protect poultry from a strain of Avian Flu in Europe.

Government Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens has declared a Prevention Zone introducing enhanced biosecurity requirements for…

The Government has announced that England is set to apply for Officially TB-Free (OTF) status for more than half of the country next year - two years ahead of schedule.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says this is evidence…

Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens has announced that the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone that has been in place since 6th December will be extended until 28th February to help protect captive birds, after confirmation of another case of H5N8 in a…

H5N8 avian flu has been confirmed in a backyard flock of chickens and ducks near Thornton, Wyre, Lancashire.

A 3 km Protection Zone and a 10 km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading…

The UK’s Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed H5N8 avian flu in a small flock of chickens and geese at a premises near Diss, South Norfolk.

A 3 km Protection Zone and a 10 km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected…

CCTV will be mandatory in all slaughterhouses in England under new plans announced today by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

CCTV will be required in all areas where live animals are present, with unrestricted access to footage for Official Veterinarians…

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced that from Spring 2018, CCTV will be mandatory in all slaughterhouses in England.

New legislation will be introduced in the New Year making slaughterhouse CCTV a legal requirement in all areas where live…

Christine Middlemiss has been appointed as the UK's next Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO).

Christine will take over from Nigel Gibbens who is stepping down at the end of February 2018 after 10 years in the post.

Christine, who comes from a farming…

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published an updated draft code of practice for the welfare of meat chickens and meat breeding chickens, following a consultation last year.

The draft code contains twenty recommendations…

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed that bird flu has been detected in 17 wild birds in Dorset, with more expected over the coming days.

This is the first confirmed finding of the virus in the UK this winter and tests…

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has extended the bird flu prevention zone declared in Dorset last week to cover the whole of England, requiring all bird keepers to follow strict biosecurity measures.

The decision comes after…

Legislation to make CCTV cameras mandatory in slaughterhouses in England has been laid before Parliament by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

The legislation will come into effect from May 2018, at which point businesses will have six months to comply…

Christine Middlemiss has taken up her post as UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), taking over from Nigel Gibbens who has stepped down after 10 years in the role.

Before joining Defra, Christine served as the CVO for New South Wales, Australia, a position…

Defra has announced that the law which requires horses born since July 2009 to be microchipped is being extended to include all horses, ponies and donkeys, regardless of their age.

From October 2020 it will be mandatory for all owners to microchip their…

Defra has released new data showing that new outbreaks of bovine TB have fallen in the two areas that have now completed their licensed four-year badger culls.

In the Somerset cull area, TB incidence has fallen from 24% before culling started to 12%…

People who abuse animals could face up to five years in prison after the Environment Secretary Michael Gove introduced a new Bill to Parliament yesterday which increases the maximum sentence from the current 6 months.

This, says the government, would…