Consultation starts: 16 January 2012
Consultation closes: 10 April 2012

Summary

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) governs the veterinary profession through its Council and system of committees. This includes the two statutory committees that deal with disciplinary proceedings – the Preliminary Investigation Committee (PIC) and Disciplinary Committee (DC). RCVS Council both sets the standards for the profession and, through these statutory committees, deals with any possible breaches of those standards, thus there is an overlap of functions. This system is now considered to be inflexible, insufficiently impartial and out of date when compared to the ‘best practice’ seen in other comparable professions. The proposed amendment to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 will separate this overlap of functions thus reflecting better the role of RCVS in balancing public and professional interests. In addition, the current legislation restricts the size of the committees making it difficult for them to manage the caseload, a situation which is unsustainable for the future.

It is proposed that these reforms be made by means of a Legislative Reform Order (LRO) under Sections 1 and 2 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (LRRA). The intention is to use the LRO to amend the provisions of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 that determine the size and membership of PIC and DC.

This consultation is being conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 and the terms of the Government’s Code of Practice on Written Consultations.

How to Respond

This consultation is open to everyone, but will be of particular interest to the veterinary profession and animal owners.

Any comments on the proposals in this consultation document should be sent by 10 April 2012 to: vsa.consultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

You may alternatively send your comments, or any requests for copies of the documents to:

Aroon Korgaonkar
Veterinary Surgeons Act Team
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area 5D, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

Telephone: 020 7238 5592

Downloads

16 January 2012

• Consultees (pdf, 53 KB)

13 January 2012

• Impact assessment (pdf, 246 KB)

12 January 2012

• Consultation document (pdf, 262 KB)
• Consultation letter (pdf, 52 KB)