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Nominations open for RCVS and VN council elections
Belgravia house
Prospective candidates are  invited to attend a "Meet the RCVS Day' at Belgravia House on Tuesday, November 25
Existing council members are due to retire next year

The nomination period for the RCVS Council and VN Council 2015 is now open, the RCVS has announced.

Six RCVS Council seats are available and there are two seats for VN Council.  Successful candidates will serve four-year terms. The existing Council members are due to retire from the Council next year but are all eligible for re-election.

The nomination period runs until 5pm on Saturday, January 31. In order to stand, candidates for either RCVS or VN Council will need to complete a nomination form, submit a short biography, write a short personal statement and supply a high resolution digital photo.

Each candidate is required to provide two nominations - for RCVS Council candidates this should be two veterinary surgeons on the RCVS Register who are not current RCVS Council members; for VN Council candidates nominators must  be registered or listed VNs who are not current VN Council member.

The elections commence in March 2015 and run until Friday 24 April. Successful candidates for either council will take up their seats at the RCVS annual general meeting and awards day on Friday, July 10 2015.

RCVS Registrar Gordon Hockey comments: “After a record 19 candidates – of which over half were women ­− for last year’s RCVS Council elections, and a good showing for VN Council as well, we hope to build on that momentum this year by attracting candidates of all ages and backgrounds.
 
“Through their participation in the Councils and their committees members can have a big impact on the future of their respective professions by developing policy and making decisions in areas of key importance such as education and professional standards.”

Nomination forms, guidance notes and FAQs for RCVS Council candidate can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil15 The equivalent documents for VN Council candidates can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncil15.

Prospective candidates are also invited to attend a "Meet the RCVS Day' at Belgravia House on Tuesday, November 25 where they will have the opportunity to learn more about the role of the Council members as well as having a tour of the building and the opportunity to talk to staff. For more information contact Fiona Harcourt, Events Officer, on f.harcourt@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0773.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.