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VMD appoints new CEO
Pictured: Abigail Seager.
Experienced civil servant Abigail Seager will take over the role.

Yesterday (13 September) the VMD announced that it has appointed Abigail Seager as its new CEO.

Seager has previously held roles in the VMD including director of the authorisations, head of the EU exit and international office, and head of the general assessment and imports team. 

Seager's pre-VMD roles include deputy head of fisheries legislation for Defra, and roles within the Ministry of Justice. 

David Kennedy, Defra's general director for food, commented on the announcement in a government news release: "I’m very excited about this appointment.

“Abi is incredibly well placed to lead the organisation in the next phase. I look forward to working closely with Abi and VMD as they ensure veterinary medicines continue to be safe, together with growing their international business and leading our work on AMR.”

Abigail succeeds Professor Pete Borriello, who has held the post for 10 years. 

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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.'