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New bTB policy document
The BCVA will continue to maintain its close relationship with Defra

BCVA announces revised position

In a statement the British Cattle Veterinary Association has announced: ‘The BCVA remains supportive of the overarching goals of the 25-year bTB control strategy launched by Minister George Eustice MP in 2014.

'We see opportunities to utilise an increase in available science, as well as a perceived invigoration – in both vets and farmers – to take control of their destiny with bTB in order to maintain and improve the gains already being made.

‘The BCVA will continue to maintain our close relationship with Defra, to minimise the political interference with disease control. Instead, we advocate an approach of farm level control, delivered by trusted practitioners, supported by government, which enables all available tools to be at the disposal of this vet-led team.

‘With this open and inclusive approach, we believe that the achievement of the status of freedom from bTB by 2038 is an ultimate achievable goal.’

‘In any policy as complex and nuanced as Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) it will necessarily extend beyond the scope of a short comment. This commentary should therefore be taken alongside the document developed by the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) TB group and to be released shortly.’

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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
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.