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Cutting Farmers’ Red Tape
Agriculture and Food Minister Jim Paice has set out how the new Task Force on Farming Regulation will work to reduce the bureaucratic burdens that English farmers and food producers face.

The Task Force has been asked to identify ways to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers and food processors by reviewing regulations and their implementation. They will advise how best to achieve a risk-based system of enforcement whilst maintaining high environmental, welfare and safety standards. Their work will cover:

  • farming (including horticulture);
  • food issues as they apply on farm;
  • food processing where farmer and processor interests overlap; and
  • processing of farmed produce.

The group will focus on identifying and making recommendations on:

  • unnecessary measures, which might be revoked or, if EU-based, re-negotiated;
  • alternative approaches that could reduce the burden of existing regulations – removing ‘gold-plating’; and
  • disproportionate or overly complex implementation and enforcement that could be made more simple, empathetic, risk-based and outcome driven.

The members of the Task Force are: Richard Macdonald (Chair), Judith Donovan, William Goodwin, John Healey, Heather Jenkins, Richard Percy, Marion Regan, Andy Robertson, and Steve Tapper.

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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. 

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News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.