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New RCVS Head of Legal Services/Registrar
Gordon Hockey appointed

The RCVS has announced that Gordon Hockey has been appointed Head of Legal Services/Registrar, to work alongside new Chief Executive and Secretary, Nick Stace.

A qualified barrister and pharmacist, Gordon has been at the RCVS for the last 14 years. He was previously Head of Professional Conduct and Assistant Registrar and has been filling the role of Acting Registrar since November 2011.

Both Mr Hockey's new role and that of Chief Executive and Secretary were newly created after the old post of Registrar Secretary was split in two. The appointment is subject to formal ratification at the November Council meeting.

Nick Stace, who commenced his role on Monday 3rd September, said “I am delighted that Gordon’s is my first appointment as Chief Executive, and I am grateful that he held the fort so well for the last nine months. I look forward to working with him to ensure that the RCVS is in the best shape possible to meet the needs of the public and the veterinary team.”

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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.  

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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.'