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Consultation launches on National Residues Control Programme
The NRCP identifies residue of veterinary medicines and other contaminants in products of animal origin.
The VMD’s consultation will discuss new charges for the programme.

A public consultation has been launched by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to discuss changes to the charges made for the National Residues Control Programme (NRCP).

The VMD has proposed an increase in the statutory charges, paid by food business operators, to support the increased cost of procuring contractors.

The NRCP is designed to identify any residue of veterinary medicines, banned substances, and other contaminants in products of animal origin that will enter the food chain.

This involves examining random samples from products of animal origin, including eggs, milk, meat and farmed fish. The VMD reports that over 30,000 samples are taken in Great Britain each year.

As well as protecting human health, the programme also provides assurances to the UK’s trading partners that any exported products are safe and of good quality. This supports international trade worth billions each year to the UK economy.

The current costs for delivering the NRCP are £5 million per year, which is invoiced from food business operators. These charges have not increased since 2011.

However the VMD has now forecast that NRCP costs will rise to £6.1 million by 2026, due to the rising costs of procuring the contractors to carry out sampling and testing.

The increase in statutory charges is proposed for the next two financial years. The VMD says that this will ensure full cost recovery for the scheme.

The consultation has been launched jointly between the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments, and will run for 10 weeks. It can be accessed through Citizen Space or the VMD’s engagement website.

Abi Seager, VMD chief executive officer, said: “The National Residues Control Programme is fundamental to providing assurance to the UK’s trading partners about the quality and safety of exported products of animal origin.
 
“The proposals outlined will ensure that we can continue to run this important programme which helps to support international trade worth billions of pounds a year to the UK economy.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.