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Defra invests £8 million in wildlife
Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans)

Multi-million pound funding for conservation projects 

Environment minister Richard Benyon has announced that funding of £8 million will be dedicated to conservation and environmental projects worldwide.

The funding has been granted as part of the Darwin Initiative by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Projects in developing countries will receive £6million, while £2million will be available for projects in UK Overseas Territories.

The Darwin Initiative focuses on helping countries that are rich in biodiversity, but lack the money or technology to meet their objectives.

Since beginning in 1992, the initiative has provided funding of £97million to more than 800 projects in 150 countries.

The Darwin Plus Fund is currently supporting a variety of projects in the Overseas Territories, such as monitoring seabirds in the southern ocean and the control of invasive lionfish in the Caribbean.

Approximately 90 per cent of the biodiversity found within the UK and Territories combined, is found within the UK's 14 Overseas Territories.

Applications for funding opened on June 19. For more information, visit the Darwin Initiative website.

Image credit: Nick Hobgood

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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.'