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Animal health body merges with Fera teams
The AHVLA has merged with four teams from Fera.
New Animal and Plant Health Agency launches today

As of today (October 1), the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) will change its name as it merges with four teams from the Food and Environment Agency (Fera).

The new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is responsible for safeguarding animal and plant health. It will work to prevent pests, diseases and invasive non-native species from entering the UK.

Heading up the APHA is Chris Hadkiss, former chief executive of AHVLA. It is made up of the AHVLA and four teams from Fera - the National Bee Inspectorate, the Plants Health and Seeds Inspectorate, the Plant Variety and Seeds Group and the GM Inspectorate. Fera as an organisation will continue, but without these inspectorate functions.

According to the new organisation, merging the AHVLA and Fera teams will make it easier for animal and plant health inspectors to work together in times of disease emergency.

Environment minister Lord de Mauley commented: "Bringing together animal and plant health inspection functions in the Animal and Plant Health Agency makes very good sense. It will enable joined up working on plant and animal diseases and pests, and will increase our resilience and flexibility to respond to emergencies."

Contact telephone numbers and helplines will remain the same and the AHPA will operate from the same field offices, investigation centres, laboratories and border inspection posts.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.