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Two members elected to RCVS Fellowship Board
Niall Connell, who has been interim chair of the board, has now been elected to the role.
The winning candidates will formally start their roles in November.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has announced the results of its recent election for two positions on its Fellowship Board.

RCVS fellows have elected Niall Connell to the role of chair of the Fellowship Board and re-elected Nicky Paull as chair of the Credentials Panel for the Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice pathway.

Since the resignation of the previous chair, Dr Connell has been the acting interim chair after stepping up from his role as vice-chair. The other candidates standing for the role were Christianne Glossop and Paul Higgs.

Dr Connell said: “I know I have very big shoes to fill, thanks to the great efforts that have gone on before and I will put all my available energy into continuing to work with our fellows and the college to progress the goals of RCVS Fellowship as a resource of independent knowledge for our professions, to upskill and always innovate, while looking to enrich public awareness and discussion.”

Dr Paull will continue to serve as the chair of the Credentials Panel for the Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice Pathway after being re-elected. No other candidates stood for the position.

Dr Paull said: “I look forward to the challenge of continuing to grow the diversity of the fellowship and celebrate those who, by their contribution to the advancement of the profession by clinical or educational scholarship and leadership, have had a significant impact on clinical practice within the veterinary profession.”

Both Dr Connell and Dr Paull will be formally instated into their roles during the next Fellowship Day on 28 November 2024. They will each serve a three-year term.

The Fellowship Board sets the criteria for becoming a fellow of the RCVS and approves the process by which applications to become a fellow are received, processed and assessed. There are three pathways to fellowship: Meritorious Contributions to Knowledge, Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice, and Meritorious Contributions to the Profession.

An election for the position of vice-chair of the Fellowship Board will be held in the autumn.

Image © RCVS

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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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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.