Today I can inform the House of the publication of a White Paper which outlines this government’s vision to support a thriving, modern veterinary sector through reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA).
We are a country that cares deeply for animals, whether they are our pets and companions, our farmed animals, or our wildlife. Veterinary professionals do incredible work to uphold our high animal health and welfare standards, safeguard our biosecurity, support animal disease control and maintain food security and public health, as well as enable trade agreements.
To continue to deliver this, the veterinary sector needs a modern, fair and effective regulatory system that reflects the realities of today’s veterinary practice and supports a sustainable workforce. The White Paper sets out the government’s vision to achieve this through reform of the VSA.
It responds to our recent public consultation, which gained over 6,000 responses, demonstrating the significant support for VSA reform. This reflects the years of calls from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the profession and the public to reform the VSA.
The White Paper also sets out the government’s response to the market investigation into veterinary services for household pets undertaken by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). It confirms that our proposed reforms will address competition concerns and support innovation, consumer choice and economic growth.
Since the current VSA came into force 60 years ago, the profession has changed beyond recognition, as have our views around animals and their welfare. The current legislation is inflexible and no longer fit for purpose. It does not recognise the incredible work that is undertaken by veterinary nurses or allied veterinary professionals, nor does it take into account changes in business ownership across the sector. It does not reflect best practice with regards to managing fitness to practise or the governance of the regulator, and it does not do enough to protect consumers.
Reform of the VSA would address all of this to ensure that the veterinary sector remains fit for purpose, flexible and future-facing.
This White Paper sets out four broad areas of reform:
Regulation of all veterinary professionalsRegulation of all veterinary and animal healthcare businessesSupport for consumersStructures and governance of the regulator
One of our key aims of reform is to ensure we continue to uphold animal health and welfare by strengthening our veterinary workforce through recognition of all members of the veterinary team. This would ensure that animals receive the best and most appropriate care from qualified and licensed professionals. This will be key to increasing our resilience to exotic and endemic disease threats, playing a vital role in strengthening our food security and biosecurity.
Our economy would be supported by breaking down barriers to opportunities, regulating all veterinary businesses and increasing competition for consumers. We are proposing introducing new licensing options to increase access to the professions, especially those with disabilities, and bringing all veterinary professionals under the same regulatory umbrella. Increased responsibilities for veterinary professionals would go hand-in-hand with increased support to new and returning veterinary surgeons and nurses in order to strengthen the workforce and address the challenges of recruitment and retention.
Finally, our proposals seek to rectify the issues identified by the CMA through proportionate business regulation, increased access to information and price transparency, to support this government’s commitment to help people with the cost of living.
The proposed UK wide changes in the White Paper are crucial to transforming legislation in order to maintain high standards of animal health and welfare, protect the public and consumers and uphold public trust in the veterinary professions.
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2026-07-09.hcws203.0
seen at 10:02, 10 July in Written Ministerial Statements.