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Wales to develop licensing scheme for mobile animal exhibits
Examples of mobile animal exhibits (MAEs) include travelling falconry and hawing displays, exotic pets taken to schools and reindeer at Christmas events.
Consultation also shows support for ban on circus animals 

The Welsh Government is set to develop a licensing scheme for mobile animal exhibits, following a consultation.

Examples of mobile animal exhibits (MAEs) include travelling falconry and hawing displays, exotic pets taken to schools and reindeer at Christmas events.

A consultation earlier this year found the majority of respondents favoured a licensing scheme over registration. The government will now develop the scheme in partnership with stakeholders and enforcement agencies.

Announcing the decision, cabinet secretary Lesley Griffiths, said: “There is concern the welfare needs of some animals kept by MAEs, including circuses, cannot be met in a travelling environment. MAEs are diverse and there is no standard licensing regime or requirement for routine inspection.”

Government officials are now beginning work on developing the scheme, which Griffiths said “will not be done in isolation”.

She added: “We will need to engage with stakeholders and enforcement agencies in its development, particularly on how we define MAEs, as well as working collaboratively with our counterparts in the other devolved administrations to ensure there are no cross border issues.”

The consultation also asked for views on banning the use of wild animals in circuses. Of the almost 1,000 responses to the consultation, the majority answered only this question and there was strong support for a ban. The licensing scheme will include animals in circuses, but officials will consider this as a separate work stream.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
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RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.