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Polar bears discovered living on Arctic iceberg
Sanctuary found to escape hunters during summer

A previously unknown polar bear sanctuary has been found in the Arctic by the BBC during the filming of its Operation Iceberg programme.

There was an estimated 20 bears seen on the Peterman Iceberg in Baffin Bay, 50km off the Canadian coast, which contradicts knowledge that all polar bears return to land during the summer months when the sea ice has melted.

It was previously thought that these polar bears moved to Baffin Island, when actually, some spend the summer months surviving on large tabular icebergs off the coast.

Presenter Chris Packham said: "What's there for them is security, and I think they are taking advantage of that. So I think they are living on this iceberg to stay safe, and just wait for the sea ice to come back in."

This is said to be the first time that the bears have been known to live in large numbers on a tabular iceberg out at sea.

The icebergs are thought to provide a sanctuary from human hunting.

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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.