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BVA calls on minister to act over shock collars
Defra has said that it remains committed to banning shock collars.
Legislation to ban hand-controlled devices is waiting to finish its journey through Parliament.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has written to Lord Douglas-Miller at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) about the lack of action in Parliament to finalise a ban on using hand-controlled electric shock collars on cats and dogs.

In the letter, BVA president Anna Judson wrote: ‘Although it is due to come into force on 1 February 2024, and has been carried over into the current parliamentary session, it has yet to be allocated parliamentary time in the House of Commons.’

A Defra spokesperson said: “We remain committed to delivering our pledge to ban the use of hand-controlled electric shock collars. Parliamentary business will be announced in due course.”

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Submissions open for BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026

News Story 1
 The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.

It is an opportunity for applicants to present new research on any veterinary subject, such as the preliminary results of a study, discussion of a new technique or a description of an interesting case.

They must be based on high-quality clinical research conducted in industry, practice or academia, and summarised in 250 words.

Applications are welcome from vets, vet nurses, practice managers, and students.

Submissions are open until 6 March 2026. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk