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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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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Government releases latest bluetongue statistics

APHA has confirmed the number of bluetongue cases that have been logged in the UK since 1 July 2026.

The total number of BTV-3 cases, as of 6 August, is 187. This includes 183 cases in England and four cases in Wales.

There have been no recorded cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The location of premises in Great Britain where at least one animal has tested positive by PCR for BTV-3, BTV-8 or BTV-12 is available on the bluetongue case map. All livestock keepers in Great Britain are urged to familiarise themselves with nation-specific bluetongue control policies.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement that any suspicions, even if livestock has been vaccinated, are reported immediately.