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APHA names new veterinary director
Andrew Soldan has been appointed veterinary director of the APHA.

Andrew Soldan will succeed Simon Hall 

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has announced the appointment of Andrew Soldan as veterinary director.

Mr Soldan’s appointment comes after former veterinary director Simon Hall transferred to the position of APHA director for EU Exit and Trade earlier this year.

Commenting on the appointment, Andrew said: “I’m delighted and honoured to be asked to take up the role of veterinary director. I look forward to the joys and challenges that this will bring and to working with many across the agency to help ensure we provide excellent veterinary and technical expertise to our customers and stakeholders.”

Chris Hadkiss, chief executive for APHA, added: “Andrew brings with him a wealth of corporate knowledge about the agency and Defra, and a variety of experience from his roles leading the agency’s commercial services (APHA Scientific), and in previous years, laboratory services.

“He also led the project for the launch of APHA when our plant and bee health teams moved from Fera to join the former Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency back in 2014.”

Andrew joined the APHA in February 1999. His previous roles in the agency include head of APHA scientific, head of laboratory testing and international trade programme manager.

Before joining the agency, Andrew worked as a veterinary investigation officer in the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and as a private veterinary surgeon in Devon and York.

Andrew also spent five years as a veterinary officer in Malawi for the former Overseas Development Administration. 

Image (C) DEFRA

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.