British Veterinary Association
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) represents the UK’s veterinary profession and plays an influential role in shaping policy, practice standards, and public messaging that affect the broader petcare sector. Pet Gazette reports on BVA statements, campaigns, and consultations that intersect with pet retail — particularly around health products, parasite treatments, nutrition guidance, and animal welfare. We also cover the BVA’s stance on regulatory issues, veterinary shortages, and collaborations with government or trade bodies. This tag helps retailers, suppliers, and distributors stay aligned with the professional and ethical framework guiding UK veterinary care.
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Jan- 2018 -24 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
Scottish government confirms electric shock dog collar ban
The use of electric shock dog collars is to be banned in Scotland, the Scottish government has confirmed. The decision comes off the back of a long-running campaign by Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden, the Kennel Club, the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, and the Scottish SPCA. The government initially decided…
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5 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
#Puglife is prompting public to choose unhealthy breeds, say vets
Vets fear that the number of dogs needing invasive surgery to correct painful breed-related deformities will continue to soar as their clients choose to copy big brands and image-obsessed celebrities in their choice of dog breed. New statistics from the British Veterinary Association (BVA) show almost half of vets believe…
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2 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
Vets commend legislation to stop unscrupulous breeders
The Government has announced (22 December) that legislation to crack down on unscrupulous breeders and illegal puppy smuggling could be introduced in early 2018. The proposals under consideration include compulsory licensing for anyone breeding and selling dogs, ensuring that licensed dog breeders show puppies alongside their mother before a sale is…
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Dec- 2017 -18 DecemberCurrent Affairs
Vets warn about Christmas hazards
81 percent of vets across the UK saw at least one case of toxic ingestion in pets during the 2016 festive period, reveal findings from a survey released today (18 December), prompting the British Veterinary Association (BVA) to urge pet owners to watch out for potential hazards to their pets…
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14 DecemberCurrent Affairs
Nominations for president of the BVA now open
Nominations for the president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) for 2019/20 are now open and will run until 15 January 2018, with all veterinary surgeons invited to self-nominate or nominate a fellow BVA member with their consent. The BVA officer team consists of BVA president, senior vice president (SVP) and junior…
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12 DecemberCurrent Affairs
Government drafts Bill on animal sentience
Responding to the campaign to enshrine Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty into UK law, the Government has today (12 December) published a draft Bill, which sets out that the government “must have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings in formulating and implementing government policy”. The…
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Nov- 2017 -17 NovemberCurrent Affairs
Rejection of Brexit bill clause ‘concerning’, says BVA
MPs have voted to reject the inclusion of a crucial clause that would transfer the recognition of animal sentience into UK law post Brexit in an eight-hour parliamentary debate on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (15 November). Green MP Caroline Lucas submitted an amendment clause (NC30), which sought to transfer the EU…
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9 NovemberCurrent Affairs
Former BVA president joins Agria as Vet Panel Lead
Agria Pet Insurance has announced that Robin Hargreaves, former British Veterinary Association (BVA) president, is joining the team as Vet Panel Lead. This advisory role will see Robin supporting the specialist pet insurer from a veterinary perspective on many aspects of their business strategy and product portfolio, while building on…
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6 NovemberCurrent Affairs
Lizzie Lockett named new RCVS CEO
Lizzie Lockett has been named as the new chief executive officer of the The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), following a meeting of RCVS Council on Thursday 2 November 2017. Lizzie joined the College as head of communications in February 2005 following a career in marketing and public relations, including…
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Oct- 2017 -30 OctoberIndustry News
RCVS and BVA join forces to deal with the impact of Brexit
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the British Veterinary Association (BVA) have joined forces with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on a project to assess the challenges and opportunities posed by EU exit, with the aim to develop a flexible and skilled workforce which…
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