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Legislation started on circus animal ban
Legislation underway for ban of wild animals in circuses

The Government has begun work on draft legislation to set out the exact details of the ban on wild animals in circuses set to come into force in England.

The Born Free Foundation, the British Veterinary Association, the Captive Animal's Protection Society and the RSPCA have all welcomed the move, and released a joint statement:

"We will support Government in any way possible to bring about the implementation of such a ban at the earliest possible opportunity.

We remain concerned that, despite repeated requests for clarification by both the circus industry and animal welfare stakeholders, no clear start date for the ban has been set.

We believe that an implementation date for the ban must be announced as soon as possible so that circuses can decide on potential investment in licensing and retirement of animals."

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Government releases latest bluetongue statistics

APHA has confirmed the number of bluetongue cases that have been logged in the UK since 1 July 2026.

The total number of BTV-3 cases, as of 6 August, is 187. This includes 183 cases in England and four cases in Wales.

There have been no recorded cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The location of premises in Great Britain where at least one animal has tested positive by PCR for BTV-3, BTV-8 or BTV-12 is available on the bluetongue case map. All livestock keepers in Great Britain are urged to familiarise themselves with nation-specific bluetongue control policies.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement that any suspicions, even if livestock has been vaccinated, are reported immediately.