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First vet elected to House of Commons since 1880
Dr Hudson has worked in large and small animal practice, both in the UK and Australia.

New MP hopes to bolster support for animal welfare

Equine veterinary surgeon Dr Neil Hudson has been elected as Conservative MP for Penrith and the Border, becoming the first vet to be elected to the House of Commons since 1880.

Dr Hudson initially studied at the University of Cambridge, going on to gain a Diploma in Veterinary Clinical Studies from the University of Sydney. Finally, he moved to Edinburgh, where he earned his Certificate in Equine Internal Medicine.

Currently, Dr Hudson is a senior veterinary clinical lecturer at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. He has worked in large and small animal practice, both in the UK and Australia.

Dr Hudson has expressed his investment in upholding high standards of animal welfare in the UK, as well as support for numerous animal welfare pledges outlined in the Conservative Manifesto. These include:

  • Banning imports from trophy-hunting and bringing the ivory ban into force
  • Expanding mandatory microchipping to include cats
  • Banning excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening
  • Tougher sentences for animal cruelty cases
  • Cracking down on illegal puppy smuggling.

As part of his election campaign, Dr Hudson attended a round table meeting focusing on rural businesses and met with farmers at various local marts to discuss issues facing the industry.

Receiving 28,875 votes, Dr Hudson is the fifth MP to represent the Penrith and the Border constituency. Many hope that his extensive, real-world experience will bolster support for policies surrounding rural affairs, animal welfare and education.

Image (c) The University of Edinburgh

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.