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Wales votes in favour of snare ban
According to research by Defra, nearly 75 per cent of animals caught in snares are not the intended species.

The first UK nation to make steps towards ban.

The Welsh parliament has voted in favour of banning snares. The vote took place on Tuesday, 16 May, and was part of the third stage of a debate on the Agriculture (Wales) Bill.

The legislative process will now move to its fourth and final stage, when Senedd is expected to ratify the bill, subject to King’s consent. A ban will come into force two months after receiving royal assent. 

Snares are wire traps used by famers and gamekeepers to catch foxes, rabbits and brown hares. Under the Animal Welfare Act (2006), operators are responsible for avoiding the unnecessary suffering of any captured animal, and they are urged to understand and follow the relevant code of practice.

Even when used responsibly, the devices trap indiscriminately, and according to research by Defra, nearly 75 per cent of animals caught in snares are not the intended species. They can catch animals such as deer, badgers, and even domestic dogs and cats.

Wales is the first country in the UK to make steps towards a snare ban, and the vote follows five years of campaigning by UK animal welfare charity, the League Against Cruel Sports.

Will Morton, head of public affairs at the League Against Cruel Sports said: “Wales is leading the way in animal welfare by being the first country to ban these cruel and indiscriminate traps. 

“We thank the thousands of campaigners who are backing the ban in Wales and the MSs who gave cross party support to make it become a reality."
 
The charity now plan to lobby the UK and Scottish governments to enact similar legislation in England and Scotland.

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.