Government & Legislation

Cats must be microchipped under new law

All cats in the UK must be microchipped before they reach 20 weeks old under legislation introduced to Parliament this week. All owners must have their cat microchipped by 10 June 2024 and owners found not to have microchipped their cat will have 21 days to have one implanted, or…

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Chancellor freezes tax thresholds in Autumn statement 

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced a raft of measures to help “stabilise” the UK economy and reduce inflation, with tax cuts and spending cuts totalling £55bn in the Autumn statement.  As part of the new measures, Hunt confirmed that tax as a percentage of GDP will rise by over 1%…

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Rishi Sunak to become next PM

Rishi Sunak is set to become the next leader of the Conservative party and the UK prime minister after becoming the sole candidate to surpass the threshold of 100 votes. Penny Mordaunt announced she was withdrawing from the race only minutes before the nominations deadline at 14:00 BST today (24…

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VetPartners’ purchase of Goddard raises competition concerns

VetPartners’ completed purchase of Goddard Holdco Limited in March 2022 has been opened for an “in-depth” investigation after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that the deal raises “competition concerns.” The CMA said it has received “a number” of complaints in recent years about higher prices or lower quality…

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Government unveils new reforms to pet microchipping regulations

The Government has unveiled its new reforms to pet microchipping regulations in England. It revealed the proposals will make it easier to reunite lost or stolen cats and dogs with their owners. Improvements include faster access for approved users and regular reminders for keeping records updated which will help improve…

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IPET Network calls for mandatory dog grooming education

The iPET Network has renewed calls for mandatory further education legislation in dog grooming after a cockapoo tragically died after being left in a cage dryer. Kilmarnock puppy Harry, died after suffering heat stroke when he went to a Scottish groomer, with the incident leading to a petition. Qualification provider…

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FSA warns of Salmonella outbreak in frozen mice

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) are advising animal keepers not to feed their pets specific batches of frozen mice following the reported outbreak of Salmonella. This outbreak of Salmonella has been linked to specific frozen mice products such as Monkfield Nutrition and as a result, a product recall information notice…

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Gov confirms new pet microchipping rules

The government has announced new pet microchipping rules which will aim to ensure that lost or stray pet cats are more likely to be reunited with their owners and returned home. Under the new plans, all keepers must ensure their pet is microchipped before they reach the age of 20…

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Gov brings forward Kept Animals Bill plans

The government has announced plans to bring forward a new criminal offence for pet abduction in its Kept Animals Bill. The bill which was first introduced in September, will see offenders face up to five years in prison for dog abduction offences. Prior to this new offence, pet theft was…

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The Animal Health and Welfare Board secures six new members

Biosecurity minister Lord Benyon has announced the appointment of six new members to the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England. The appointments of Peter Laurie, Emma Slawinski, Gwyn Jones, James Russell, John Reed and Charles Sercombe will take immediate effect, they will serve for three years and will support…

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