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BHA releases statement on Cheltenham Festival
Image - Cheltenham.co.uk
Euthanasia required after racehorse injuries

Following the death of five horses at the Cheltenham Festival, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has released an official statement. The BHA also confirmed that it will not, as has previously been reported, be launching a full inquiry but will instead be following its standard procedure for such eventualities.

A spokesperson said "As with every equine injury or fatality, detailed data will be collated by the BHA, examining the type of injury in question and the context in which it took place. This is routine for the BHA and shows how, as an independent regulator, the BHA works with the racecourses to manage and reduce risk where possible, making rational and measured decisions based on data collected.”

They added: "Our long-term focus is to identify significant trends and robustly analyse the risk. Racecourses, horse racing trainers and the sport's regulator are not complacent about these risks and recognise there is always more to do to further reduce these risks." 

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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.  

Click here for more...
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.