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First EBVM Conference raises questions
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Veterinary professionals discuss emerging issues in veterinary medicine

The role of evidence in veterinary medicine has formed the subject of the first international Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine Conference this week.

Veterinary professionals gathered in Windsor for the two day event this week, to share information and benefit from a thought provoking programme.

Conference discussions raise a number of questions on the veterinary profession's sources of information, how reliable these sources are, whether there are conflicts of interest and the role and reliability of drug company representatives as a source.

Commenting on Twitter, Alison Lambert, managing director of Onswitch, said: "Conflict of interest [is] key. Who do you let in your practice to help you who has conflict of interest?"

Speakers at the conference have included GP Martin Brunet, who described the way human medicine has been transformed by evidence-based medicine (EBM). Following his talk, Dr Brunet commented on Twitter: "Great to be there and to cross fertilise with the world of veterinary medicine. Fascinating to see we face similar dilemmas".

Commenting on the talk, Alison Lambert tweeted: "Great session from Dr Martin Brunet - 'Drug companies are not a good place to get evidence - they are not independent'".

We are grateful to Alison Lambert of Onswitch for providing information from the conference.

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.