These requirements apply to all business activities in this division.
registration
Uk
Annual
RCVS registration to practise veterinary surgery
Enforced by:
RCVS
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
Practising veterinary surgery is restricted to persons on the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) register; unregistered practice is a criminal offence under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Registrants must follow the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct. The RCVS Practice Standards Scheme is voluntary practice accreditation, not a statutory licence. Division-wide: applies to every veterinary practice.
compliance
Uk
Ongoing
Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 — supply and dispensing
Enforced by:
VMD
Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013
The current consolidated regime (revoked and remade the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2011; kept current by amendments to 2024). Governs prescribing, supply, dispensing, record-keeping and pharmacovigilance for veterinary medicinal products. Premises supplying veterinary medicines must be registered/approved as appropriate with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). Division-wide: applies to practices that prescribe or dispense veterinary medicines (effectively all clinical practices).
compliance
England_Wales
Ongoing
Clinical and hazardous waste duty of care
Enforced by:
ENVIRONMENT_AGENCY
Environmental Protection Act 1990; Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005
Veterinary practices generate clinical waste (sharps, pharmaceutical, infectious and anatomical waste) and must store, classify and consign it via registered carriers under the s34 duty of care, with consignment notes for hazardous waste. Devolved: Scotland — Special Waste Regulations 1996 / Waste (Scotland) Regulations, regulated by SEPA; Wales — Hazardous Waste (Wales) Regulations 2005, regulated by Natural Resources Wales; NI — Hazardous Waste Regulations (NI) 2005. Division-wide: applies to every clinical veterinary practice.
compliance
Great_Britain
Ongoing
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
Enforced by:
HSE
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
Assess and control exposure to hazardous substances used in veterinary practice — anaesthetic gases, cytotoxic drugs, disinfectants, zoonotic biological agents. Devolved: equivalent COSHH Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 in NI. Division-wide: applies to every veterinary practice.
compliance
Great_Britain
Ongoing
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — general duties
Enforced by:
HSE
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
General duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees and others affected by the practice — animal handling, manual handling, slips, needlestick injuries. Division-wide.
insurance
Great_Britain
Annual
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance)
Enforced by:
HSE
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Required for any practice employing at least one person (most veterinary surgeons also carry professional indemnity cover, though that is not statutory). Division-wide.
registration
Uk
Annual
UK GDPR + Data Protection Act 2018
Enforced by:
ICO
Data Protection Act 2018; UK GDPR (retained EU law)
Veterinary practices process personal data of clients (owners) alongside clinical animal records. ICO data protection fee payable unless exempt. Division-wide.
compliance
Great_Britain
Ongoing
Equality Act 2010 — protected characteristics
Enforced by:
EHRC
Equality Act 2010
No discrimination, harassment or victimisation in employment or in providing services to clients. Division-wide.
compliance
England_Wales
Ongoing
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Enforced by:
LOCAL_FIRE_AUTHORITY
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The 'responsible person' for the practice premises must carry out and maintain a fire risk assessment. Devolved variants: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006. Division-wide.