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The growth of the internet has made it easier for pet retailers to sell to large audiences.

Is it time to regulate the online trade in pets?

In recent years the growth of the internet has made it easier for pet retailers to sell to large audiences. No longer do people have to search locally, join waiting lists, or wait six weeks to pick up their pet. Now they can just log on, scour the whole country and pick up a new animal within a matter of days.


On Tuesday (24 May), as part of a government-led inquiry into the welfare of domestic pets, representatives from Pets4Homes and Gumtree joined a panel discussion about online pet sales. The panel also included representatives from the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) and PupAid. 


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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.  

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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.