RCVS Council has approved a trial protocol which will allow the College to launch private prosecutions against unqualified individuals breaching the Veterinary Surgeons Act from April 2023.

Under the protocol trial, the RCVS can launch private prosecutions…

Following BBC Panorama’s expose into extreme dog breeding which aired on Monday, Dave Martin MRCVS, Animal Welfare Advisor at IVC Evidensia, has called for new legislation in the UK which would make it illegal to own a dog with cropped ears.

Ear cropping…

The RCVS Council has voted to approve proposed changes to how 'under care' is defined in the supporting guidance for the Guide to Professional Conduct.

The new guidance will remove the absolute requirement for veterinary surgeons to perform a physical…

The Government has announced plans for a new law to make it compulsory to microchip cats before they reach the age of 20 weeks and their contact details stored and kept up to date in a pet microchipping database.

Owners found not to have microchipped their…

Following a public consultation, the RCVS Council has voted to adopt all the proposals made by the RCVS Legislation Working Party concerning future veterinary legislation.

The Legislative Reform Consultation took place between November 2020 and April 2021 and…

VetSurgeon.org has started a series of discussions about major changes to the profession proposed by the Legislative Working Party in order to help you form your opinion and give feedback to the RCVS.  

If they become law, the changes proposed by the working…

The RCVS Council has voted to hold a consultation on a set of recommendations that would see wide-scale changes to the legislative framework governing the regulation of the veterinary professions.

The recommendations were proposed by the Legislation Working…

The government has launched a call for evidence on cat microchipping, to find out what the effect of compulsory microchipping would be on owners, rescue and rehoming centres and cats themselves.

Although microchipping has been a legal requirement for…

The RCVS has published details about its plans for a comprehensive review of its guidance to the veterinary profession on ‘under care’ and out-of-hours emergency cover, including a broad timetable for evidence gathering, policy drafting, and public consultation…

The RCVS Council has approved a pathway for veterinary and animal health paraprofessionals to become associates of, or accredited by the College and thereby fall within its regulatory remit.

At the June 2017 meeting of RCVS Council, members decided to…

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has announced that treatments for animals which contain cannabidiol are classed as veterinary medicines and will be regulated as such.

Veterinary medicines are defined in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations…

The Government has announced that remote controlled electric shock collars for pets will be banned in England, following a consultation which attracted over 7000 responses.

Whilst the decision has been welcomed by the BVA and leading animal charities…

Defra has announced that the law which requires horses born since July 2009 to be microchipped is being extended to include all horses, ponies and donkeys, regardless of their age.

From October 2020 it will be mandatory for all owners to microchip their…

The Government has announced plans to ban the use of electric shock training collars in England.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: "We are a nation of animal lovers, and the use of these punitive devices can cause harm and suffering, whether intentionally…

Legislation to make CCTV cameras mandatory in slaughterhouses in England has been laid before Parliament by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

The legislation will come into effect from May 2018, at which point businesses will have six months to comply…

The race to become the cuddliest, fluffiest, puppy-friendly political party got a little bit closer yesterday as Labour launched a 50 point draft policy document outlining its plans for action on animal welfare.

Titled 'Animal Welfare For The Many, Not…

The government has today launched a call for evidence which seeks views on the banning of third party sales of puppies, which would mean anyone wanting to buy or adopt a dog would have to deal directly with a breeder or one of the country's rehoming centres…

The Veterinary Practice Management Association (VPMA) has published its ten top tips for practices to become compliant with the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules coming into force in May 2018:

1. What data are we talking about?
   The data…

The Government has announced that it is developing new proposals to crack down on puppies being reared in unhealthy circumstances by unscrupulous breeders who disregard their welfare.

Proposals being considered include insisting that dog breeders only…

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed new, stricter enforcement priorities to protect consumers from homeopathic drugs, particularly those marketed for serious conditions without evidence of any clinical benefit.

Despite the fact that…

Following MP's vote last month against enshrining the animal welfare provisions of Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty into UK law, the Government has now published a draft bill for a new animal welfare law that would replace Article 13 post-Brexit.

With the upcoming introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) in May 2018, the Veterinary Practice Management Association has published a webinar presented by Helen Thomas (Senior Policy Officer at the Information Commissioners Office…

A 1,194-signature letter calling for the principle of Article 13 to be explicitly enshrined in UK legislation post-Brexit, led by the BVA and the BVNA, has been published in the Daily Telegraph.

The letter called on the UK government to ensure there…

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed today that the sentience of animals will continue to be recognised and protections strengthened when the United Kingdom leaves the EU.

Mr Gove ministerial statement followed the brouhaha last week when…

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced that from Spring 2018, CCTV will be mandatory in all slaughterhouses in England.

New legislation will be introduced in the New Year making slaughterhouse CCTV a legal requirement in all areas where live…