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New contracts for Veterinary Delivery Partners awarded
In addition to TB testing, the new contracts broaden the range of veterinary and technical services provided for.
TB testing in England and Wales to be delivered under new APHA contracts.

Statutory tuberculosis testing and other government veterinary services in England and Wales will be delivered under new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) contracts for Defra and Welsh government from 1 June 2021.

Since 2015, Regional Veterinary Delivery Partners (VDP) have been providing services on behalf of APHA for Defra and Welsh Government, and it is expected that there will be a seamless transition with the new contracts awarded to an existing VDP following an open tender in autumn 2020. These new contracts will at run initially until 2024. 

Out of the six VDP regions, four are in England, and two in Wales, and from 1 June, any and all new instructions for work are being allocated to the VDP responsible for delivery under the new contracts. VDPs are also required to work with all the qualifying veterinary business which operate within their geographical region. 

As such, a keeper's own veterinary practice will deliver services wherever that is possible, and this acknowledges the importance of and impact that local veterinary professionals have on disease prevention and control in England and Wales. 

Alongside the official veterinary surgeons, TB testing in England can be carried out by Approved Tuberculin Testers authorised by APHA, as set out under the new contracts. 

The new contracts do not only set out the TB testing delivery, but also broaden the range of veterinary and technical services which are provided, including functions to compliment APHA's work in the exotic disease control field and the welfare of farmed animals. 

Notably, the new contracts aim to further strengthen the quality assurance through enhanced audit and performance management procedures. 

Christine Middlemiss, the UK chief veterinary officer, said: “These new contracts focus rightly on further strengthening the quality assurance of services delivered by our Veterinary Delivery Partners. The VDP contracts are an essential part of delivering our TB disease control policy in England.”

The regional Veterinary Delivery Partners from 1 June are:
  • North Wales: Menter a Busnes
  • South Wales: lechyd Da (Gwledig) Ltd
  • Devon and Cornwall: Farmcare Devon & Cornwall Ltd
  • Western England: Farmcare West Ltd
  • South and Eastern England: Farmcare Central Ltd
  • Northern England: Farmcare North Ltd.
APHA will continue to send the tuberculosis test notice letters, which inform the keeper which VDP supplier is responsible for delivering the test, but it remains the keeper's responsibility to arrange the TB testing, and they should continue to contact their usual veterinary practice to make the arrangements. 

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FIVP launches CMA remedies survey

News Story 1
 FIVP has shared a survey, inviting those working in independent practice to share their views on the CMA's proposed remedies.

The Impact Assessment will help inform the group's response to the CMA, as it prepares to submit further evidence to the Inquiry Group. FIVP will also be attending a hearing in November.

Data will be anonymised and used solely for FIVP's response to the CMA. The survey will close on Friday, 31 October 2025. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
CMA to host webinar exploring provisional decisions

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to host a webinar for veterinary professionals to explain the details of its provisional decisions, released on 15 October 2025.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 from 1.00pm to 2.00pm.

Officials will discuss the changes which those in practice may need to make if the provisional remedies go ahead. They will also share what happens next with the investigation.

The CMA will be answering questions from the main parties of the investigation, as well as other questions submitted ahead of the webinar.

Attendees can register here before Wednesday, 29 October at 11am. Questions must be submitted before 10am on 27 October.

A recording of the webinar will be accessible after the event.