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Government to ban plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers

Environment secretary Michael Gove has announced plans to ban the sale and distribution of plastic straws, cotton buds and drinks stirrers.

Although non-plastic alternatives are readily available, it is estimated that in England we use 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million stirrers and 1.8 million plastic-stemmed cotton buds every year. Ten per cent of cotton buds are flushed down toilets and can end up in waterways and oceans.

Exemptions to the ban will apply for those who need to use plastic straws for medical reasons. Subject to a consultation, the ban is expected to come into force between October 2019 and October 2020.

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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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News Shorts
BVA urges 'continued vigilance' over bluetongue

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has urged vigilance following a concerning rise in Bluetongue (BTV) cases in sheep and cattle.

In a recent statement, the BVA noted that members are reporting more severe clinical signs and higher mortality rates than in previous years.

'We know that farm vets are working hard to support farmers and animals affected by this outbreak, during what is an extremely difficult time for all involved,' they stated. 'Continued vigilance to identify disease early is vital and vaccination remains the best way of protecting animals from this disease.'