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Lord Trees to open BVA Congress 2012
Lord Trees will bring insight from inside Parliament

The second veterinary surgeon to enter the House of Lords, Lord Trees, is set to open the annual congress of the British Veterinary Association on Friday 28th September. He will bring a view from inside Parliament on the role of vets and science in public policy making.

Congress officially begins on Thursday evening with a welcome reception, including the Presidential address and awards ceremony celebrating excellence in the profession and runs throughout Friday and Saturday at the Merseyside Maritime Museum at the Albert Dock in Liverpool.
Highlights of the two-day programme, under the theme ‘Delivering a healthy future’, include:

Horses for sport – Race horses are pushed to the limit but how far is too far? Equine vets Professor Tim Greet and Roly Owers debate some of the ethical and practical issues associated with veterinary care of horses in sport.

Women in the veterinary profession – Veterinary science has seen a rapid change in the gender makeup of graduates but what impact, if any, has the demographic shift had? Veterinary surgeons Lynne Hill and Jennifer Hall consider the importance of ‘occupationally relevant sex differences’ between men and women.

Responsibility and cost sharing – The new Animal Health and Welfare Board for England was introduced to bring those most affected by animal health policy into the heart of the decision-making process. One year on, Michael Seals, Chair of the AHWBE, and BVA past president Professor Bill Reilly debate whether it has achieved it goals.

Antimicrobials – Veterinary surgeons across Europe have been threatened with legislative changes that would restrict the use of antimicrobials. Examining the debate from both a veterinary and a public health perspective, the Health Protection Agency’s Professor John Threlfall and the University of Bristol’s Professor David Barrett will consider whether legislative diktats are the answer.

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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
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.