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Cull petition reaches 100,000 signatures
Yet farming minister insists culls will still go ahead

Despite growing opposition from the public, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are insisting the imminent badger cull will still take place.

An e-petition, launched by the Stop the Cull campaign, reached 100,000 signatures in a record time of two weeks on Monday (24 September). This means the issue can now be considered for debate in the House of Commons.

The six-week pilot cull to help eradicate bovine Tb, spread by badgers, is currently set to take place in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset by the end of next month. Last week Natural England issued their first culling licence.

Despite numerous legal challenges, Farming Minister David Heath has insisted the cull will still go ahead.

"I don't think I should [revise the policy] because I am persuaded by the science," he said. "The trials are trials. They will tell whether the cull can be done in a safe, effective and humane way."

Just one of the organisations urging the government to abandon the cull and vaccinate badgers instead is the RSPCA.
 
“This campaign is gathering an incredible momentum," said RSPCA Chief Executive, Gavin Grant. "The speed of this growth shows the scale of public interest in this issue - the UK Government must now listen to what the public are saying and give this matter some parliamentary time. Let's cure not kill."

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.