Accessibility statement for vmd.gov.uk and vmd.defra.gov.uk

This accessibility statement applies to the following domains - vmd.defra.gov.uk and vmd.gov.uk

These websites are run by Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). We want as many people as possible to be able to use these websites. We use the Government Digital Service's design system for our new services. This means the designs have been extensively tested for accessibility. That means you should be able to:

  • change colours, contrast levels and fonts

  • zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen

  • navigate most of the website using just a keyboard

  • navigate most of the website using speech recognition software, such as Dragon Naturally Speaking

  • listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

  • use basic operating system screen magnifiers, such as ZoomText magnifier

We've also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on these websites in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

We'll consider your request and get back to you in 15 working days.

If you cannot view the map on our 'contact us' page, call or email us for directions.

Reporting accessibility problems with these websites

We're always looking to improve the accessibility of these websites. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we're not meeting accessibility requirements, contact:

and provide details of the page/and or section you are having issues with, and the type problem you are having.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the 'accessibility regulations'). If you're not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about these websites’ accessibility

Veterinary Medicines Directorate is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

These websites are partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Vmd.defra.gov.uk

  • When viewing the page at 1280px width and 400% zoom, two-dimensional scrolling is required to view content. This does not comply with WCAG Level AA 2.1, 1.4.10

  • When tabbing the page, a visible tab focus indicator is not present. This does not comply with WCAG Level AA 2.1, 2.4.7

  • Copy has insufficient contrast against its background. This does not comply with WCAG Level AA 2.1, 1.4.3

  • When viewing the code behind the page, the language of the page is not defined. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 3.1.1

  • When viewing the code behind the page that access or shortcut keys are defined. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 2.1.1

  • When viewing the code behind the page, regions of the page are not identified with ARIA landmarks. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.3.1

  • When viewing the code behind the page, the heading hierarchy is incorrectly structured. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 2.4.1

  • Status messages, such as form submission confirmations, are not announced by screen readers. This does not comply with WCAG Level AA 2.1, 4.1.3

  • When navigating the site in conjunction with Dragon Naturally Speaking, OS and iOS VoiceOver, JAWS 2020, and NVDA, markup has not been used to aid accessibility for assistive technology. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 4.1.2

  • When viewing the alternative text for images, non-decorative imagery does not contain an appropriate equivalent descriptive alternative text. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.1.1

  • Form inputs do not currently have associated labels values. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.1.1

  • Some buttons do not have an accessible name. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.1.1

  • Document language missing. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 3.1.1

  • Alt text missing (on Adobe image). This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.1.1 and 2.4.4

  • No page regions or ARIA landmarks were found. This does not comply with WCAG Level AAA 2.1, 1.3.1 and 2.4.1

  • An accesskey attribute is present. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 2.4.1

  • Text is very small. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.4.12

  • Title attribute text is the same as text or alternative text. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 2.4.2

  • A layout table is present. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.3.1 and 1.3.2

  • Very low contrast between foreground and background colours. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.4.1

  • A form control does not have a corresponding label. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.1.1, 1.3.1, 2.4.6 and 3.3.2

  • A form label is present, but it is not correctly associated with a form control. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.1.1, 1.3.1, 2.4.6 and 3.3.2

  • An unordered (bulleted) list (ul element) is present. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.3.1 and 1.3.2

  • Fully justified text is present. This does not comply with WCAG Level AAA 2.1, 1.4.8

  • Link text contains extraneous text or may not make sense out of context. This does not comply with WCAG Level AAA 2.1, 1.1.1, 2.4.4 and 3.3.5

  • A form control does not have a corresponding label. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1

  • No page regions. This does not comply with WCAG Level AAA 2.1, 1.3.1, 1.3.6 and 2.4.1

  • No heading structures. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.3.1 and 2.4.6

  • Suspicious link text. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 2.4.4

  • 2 * links to pdf documents. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1

  • 5 * redundant title text. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 2.4.2

  • 13 * A form control does not have a label but has a title. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 1.1.1, 1.3.1, 2.4.6 and 3.3.2

  • A JavaScript jump menu may be present. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 2.1.1 and 3.2.2

We plan to fix these pages by March 2021

We plan to fix this page by September 2022

vmd.gov.uk

  • Labels or Instructions - Required Format Fields Information Not Present. This does not comply with WCAG Level A 2.1, 3.3.2

We plan to fix this page by September 2021

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 29 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 15 January 2021.

These websites were last tested on 22-26 June 2020 (vmd.gov.uk) and 6-10 July 2020 (vmd.defra.gov.uk). The test was carried out by internal teams and Zoonou Limited (external).

We used this approach to decide on a sample of pages to test:

  • Longest user journey

  • Most feature rich user journeys

  • Highest traffic user journeys