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Voting now open for RCVS and VN Council elections
Successful candidates will commence their term at the RCVS AGM in July.

Vets and vet nurses have until Friday 21 April to cast their votes.

The RCVS Council and VN Council elections are now open. Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses have until 5pm on Friday 21 April to cast their votes in their respective elections. Voting is entirely online, and instruction emails were sent on Friday 17 March.

For veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses that have not registered a unique email address with RCVS, an instruction letter will be sent in the post.

There are 10 candidates in the RCVS Council election. They are:

  • Professor David Barrett FRCVS
  • Linda Belton MRCVS
  • Dr Martin Chamberlain MRCVS
  • Daniel Doherty MRCVS
  • James Gartside MRCVS
  • Steven Howard MRCVS
  • Tim Hutchinson MRCVS
  • Dr Alice McLeish MRCVS
  • Professor Chris Proudman FRCVS
  • Dr Peter Robinson MRCVS

Candidates’ full biographies and and statements are available to read on the RCVS website. Each candidate has also answered two questions of their choice from those that were submitted by members of the profession.

The three candidates who receive the most votes will commence their four-year term at the RCVS Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday 7 July.

There are five candidates in the VN Council election. They are:

  • Sarah Jane Batt-Williams RVN
  • Heather Jane Mathieson Kirkness RVN
  • Katherine Ann Mortimer RVN
  • Matthew Edwin Rendle RVN
  • Simon Peter Williams RVN

The two candidates with the most votes will also commence their three-year term at the RCVS AGM.

Candidates’ profiles are available to read on the RCVS website, as well as the answers to their chosen two questions, from those that were submitted by the profession.

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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.'