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Update on Bluetongue vaccination
Regulation change for Bluetongue-free areas

Bluetongue laws have changed for England and Scotland, and are set to change for Wales, to allow the use of approved inactivated vaccines in Bluetongue-free areas, on the basis of Veterinary Risk Assessments.

In England, the Bluetongue (Amendment) Regulations 2012 came into effect last month (24 August) to permit the use of inactivated Bluetongue vaccines in Bluetongue-free areas. A General Licence has been issued to protect against Bluetongue serotypes 1, 2, 4 and 8.

Scotland's Bluetongue (Scotland) Order 2012 came into effect at the same time as England and permits inactivated Bluetongue vaccinations against all serotypes within Bluetongue-free areas.

Next week (10 October), the Bluetongue (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 will come into effect, permitting the use of inactivated Bluetongue vaccinations in Bluetongue-free areas against all serotypes.

The use of voluntary vaccination against Bluetongue remain illegal in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Regulations for live attenuated vaccines remain unaltered, and must not be used due to the risk of reversion to virulence and subsequent disease spread. Live attenuated vaccines do not have marketing authorisations for use in the UK.

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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.'