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Over 6000 dead pigs found in China
Image: Huangpu River, Shanghai
River death toll doubled since last week

Since the discovery of 2,800 pig carcasses in the Huangpu river in Shanghai last week, thousands more have been recovered, bringing the total to 6,600.

The carcasses are believed to have been dumped by pig farmers in the Jiaxing area of the neighbouring Zhejiang province. A surge in the dumping of dead pigs is thought to have been prompted by police campaigns against the sale of diseased pork.

Last Wednesday a Zhejiang court sentenced 46 people to imprisonment for producing unsafe pork from diseased pigs between 2010 and 2012.

As part of another operation last year, police in Jiaxing broke up a gang that was found to be acquiring and slaughtering diseased pigs, confiscating nearly 12 tonnes of unsafe pork.

The discovery of nearly 7000 carcasses in the Huangpu over the last week has caused anxiety amongst local residents. Officals however say the water supply remains safe.

The Shanghai government said on Wednesday that the water will continue to be tested for viruses, including porcine circovirus, which is not thought to affect humans. 

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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.