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RCVS and VN Councils elections results revealed
The successful candidates will take up their seats at the RCVS AGM in July.
Both elections saw falling turnouts this year.

The results of the 2022 RCVS and VN Councils elections have been revealed.

This year, Dr Susan Paterson MRCVS, Olivia Cook MRCVS, and Dr Abbie Calow MRCVS have been elected to the three available places on RCVS Council, with Holly Witchell RVN and Jessica Louise Beckett RVN taking up their seats on VN Council.

Both elections saw falling turnouts this year, despite the elections being conducted entirely online. 

A total of 6,583 veterinary surgeons cast their votes in the RCVS elections, representing 18.6 per cent of those eligible to vote. This compares to turnouts of 24.5 per cent in 2021 and 26.2 per cent in 2020.

For the VN elections, the total turnout was 1,740 veterinary nurses, representing just 8.4 per cent of those eligible to vote. This compares to turnouts of 12.4 per cent in 2021, 17.1 per cent in 2020.

Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS registrar and returning officer for both elections, commented: “We’re not exactly sure why both elections saw falling turnouts this year, but we do appreciate how extremely busy the professions are at the moment, and that everyone’s time is at a premium. 

“As part of our ‘Council culture’ project we are looking at ways of improving all aspects of communicating the work around RCVS Council, VN Council and their committees, including around standing for and voting in elections.”

The successful candidates will take up their seats at this this year’s RCVS Annual General Meeting on Friday, 8 July 2022.

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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.