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Nick Henderson, founder and president of VMA, has died aged 92
Nick Henderson is remembered for developing an "external voice" for the profession.
VMA pays tribute to a "tireless campaigner" 

Nick Henderson, founder and president of the Veterinary Marketing Association (VMA), has died aged 92. Mr Henderson passed away on Sunday, 23 December 2018.

VMA chair, Jane Manning, commented: “As the founder member and president of our wonderful association, Nick was such an inspiration to all of those lucky enough to meet and work with him.

“Nick continued to support the VMA and attend our annual awards event throughout his presidency. We all have some wonderful memories, not least his attendance and fabulous speech to the 300+ guests at our annual awards ceremony in March 2018 at the age of 92.

“He will be greatly missed and our sincere condolences go to Nick’s family.”

Nick Henderson BSc, MRCVS Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, was involved in setting up what was to become the BSAVA, as well as in the development of veterinary societies and associations over the past 60 years.

Fulfilling his childhood dream to become a veterinary surgeon, Mr Henderson graduated from Glasgow veterinary school in 1951 and went on to help organise the very first BSAVA congress in 1958.

Mr Henderson became the founding chairman of the Pharmaceutical Marketing Club in 1975 and founded the VMA in 1988, followed by the Associations of Veterinarians in Industry (AVI). Mr Henderson also became president of the International Aspirin Foundation and chairman of Henderson Group One.

In July 2015, Mr Henderson was awarded an RCVS Honorary Fellowship for services to the veterinary profession.

Mr Henderson is remembered and recognised by the VMA as a “tireless campaigner” for veterinary surgeons and for developing an “external voice” for the profession.

Mr Henderson’s funeral will take place on Friday, 25 January 2019 at 1 p.m. The service will be held at St Peters & St Paul’s, the parish church of West Clandon, just north of Guildford. All are welcome.

Please send any enquiries or condolences to Alice Laurens: secretary@vma.org.uk

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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.