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Entries open for RSPCA Young Photographer Awards
The overall winner of the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2024 was Anwen Whitehead.
Nominations close on 13 August 2025.

Entries have officially opened for the 2025 RSPCA Young Photographer Awards.

Photographers that are aged 18 years and under now have until 13 August 2025 to submit photographs, taken by camera or mobile device, which capture the animal kingdom.

The competition consists of 11 different categories, including Pet Portraits, Urban Animals and Portfolio entries. There are also separate categories for entrants under 12, aged 12-15 and aged 16-18.

The charity has this year launched a new category, 'Documenting Animals'. This category will celebrate three photographs which tell a story about an individual animal or comment on the natural world.

Entrants are asked to use their photo journalist skills to document real stories about events and animals to inspire and educate. Entries must be accompanied by 120 words illustrating the series of images, providing background to the overarching narrative.

Andrew Forsyth, RSPCA photographer and competition judge, said:  “We’re looking for a positive story that leaves a lasting impression.

“We want the entrants to show that they have thought about the narrative of their images, perhaps they might show the changing landscape of a nature reserve or a conservation project, maybe showing how humans help animals through rewilding initiatives or volunteering, or perhaps the images capture a series of moments which perfectly encapsulates an animal welfare or conservation issue."

This year's RSPCA Young Photographer Awards will be judged by a panel of experts in wildlife photography: Ellie Rothnie, Andrew Forsyth, Emma Jacobs and former competition winner Catriona Parfitt.

The winners in each category will be awarded trophies and a selection of prizes at a ceremony at the Tower of London in December.

Ellie Rothnie said: “The RSPCA’s Young Photographer Awards is the ultimate celebration of young creative talent.

“Every year, the entries are astounding, and indeed many winners from this competition have become immensely successful professional photographers. I am truly honoured to be a judge again, I can’t wait to see this year’s entries.”

Image © RSPCA Young Photographer Awards

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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.