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TB control plans for 2013
England and Wales continue to target TB

The European Commission has approved the Wales TB (tuberculosis) Eradication Plan 2013, and from January 1, 2013, major TB rule changes will come into place for cattle farmers in England.

Among the rule changes, the current parish system for TB testing will be replaced with a country-wide system.

Further changes in England include reducing the window for moving cattle from TB restricted herds after their last negative TB skin test from 60 to 30 days, and only permitting the restocking of Officially TB Free status suspended (OTFS) herd after its first post-breakdown test and a satisfactory veterinary risk assessment.

Also from 2013, Approved Quarantine Units (AQU) will no longer be able to restock, but those farmers that had AQUs will be able to re-register as 'rearing' Approved Finishing Units (AFU) and rear calves from infected herd for slaughter.

Furthermore, AFUs will continue to take clean cattle from infected farms for fattening before slaughter, but will be "strictly monitored".

The number of areas annually TB tested will be extended to include Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Two and three-yearly testing will be extended to four-yearly testing elsewhere in England, with enhanced surveillance around TB breakdowns.

Meanwhile, the Wales TB Eradication Plan 2013, which sets out eradication policies that will be implemented during the year, has received European approval.

The plan also builds on measures contained in the Strategic Framework for Bovine TB Eradication in Wales and includes data on the epidemiology of bovine TB in Wales over the last five years and its targets for testing and vaccinations.

“I am delighted that the European Commission has recognised the commitment shown by Wales to eradicating this disease," said the Welsh Government environment minister, John Griffiths.

“We have a comprehensive range of measures in place to deal with bovine TB. This includes tackling the disease in wildlife, increased TB testing and improving biosecurity.”

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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 members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.