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Hong Kong set to end ban on hamster imports
The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department intends to lift the import ban in mid-January.
Authorities are planning to resume importation from mid-January.

Hong Kong authorities are set to lift a year-long ban on the import of hamsters amid a relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in the city.

Hamster importations were banned in Hong Kong last year after a worker at the Little Boss pet shop tested positive for the Delta variant of the virus. Tests conducted by authorities on the animals in the shop revealed that 11 hamsters imported from the Netherlands were infected. 

Owing to the zero-tolerance COVID policy in China, Hong Kong subsequently ordered the culling of some 2,000 hamsters, prompting a backlash from animal rights campaigners and pet owners against the measures.

Speaking to BBC News, a spokesperson from the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said it intends to lift the import ban in mid-January.

"Our staff will arrange to collect samples from hamsters and other small mammals for Covid-19 testing. They can only be sold if the test results are negative," the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hong Kong added: "If such imports are to resume, the hamsters need to be handled with consideration [and] given the best care possible during transport and quarantine.”

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.