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BVA support for badger culls is "fragile"
badger
Mr Blackwell said he is disappointed that this year's culls were not monitored by an independent body.
President urges Defra not to take BVA's support for granted

BVA's president John Blackwell has implied the organisation may withdraw its support for badger culling unless it is shown to be humane, effective and safe.

"We have made it very clear to Defra that our ongoing support should not be taken for granted," said Mr Blackwell in a statement.

Pilot culls began in Gloucestershire and Somerset last year, with the support of the BVA. However, a report by an independent expert panel (IEP) found them to be inhumane and ineffective.

Mr Blackwell added: "We have made it clear that we cannot continue to support the use of controlled shooting to deliver culling unless it can be demonstrated that it can be delivered humanely, effectively and safely."

A number of recommendations were made by the panel, which BVA called on Defra to implement before giving its support to the second year of the culls. However, after repeated calls to the secretary of state, the 2014 culls were not monitored by an independent panel.

"It is no secret that some of our members are frustrated by the lack of independent analysis this year and we are disappointed that it has not been put in place to give confidence to our members and the wider public."

Some members criticised the BVA for its initial support for the culls, however Mr Blackwell said the association bases its positions on evidence, "reflecting the wide range of expertise within our membership".

BVA Council made the decision to continue supporting the culls in their second year, however Mr Blackwell said the association "always recognised that this was a fragile consensus".

When the data has been published by Defra, the BVA will carry out its own assessment to determine whether the second year of culls has been humane and effective.

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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
BVA urges 'continued vigilance' over bluetongue

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has urged vigilance following a concerning rise in Bluetongue (BTV) cases in sheep and cattle.

In a recent statement, the BVA noted that members are reporting more severe clinical signs and higher mortality rates than in previous years.

'We know that farm vets are working hard to support farmers and animals affected by this outbreak, during what is an extremely difficult time for all involved,' they stated. 'Continued vigilance to identify disease early is vital and vaccination remains the best way of protecting animals from this disease.'