The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations Order of Council 2025

Published: Fri 21st Feb 25

This Order of Council approves amendments to the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2014, increasing registration and retention fees by approximately 4%, effective April 1st, 2025.

The amendments, made by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, are detailed in the Schedule and replace Part 4 of the 2014 Regulations.

The previous regulations are revoked.

Arguments For

Intended benefits: The approximately 4% increase in fees aims to cover the increased costs of maintaining the register of veterinary surgeons. This ensures the continued efficient operation of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
Evidence cited: The RCVS resolution of January 16th, 2025, justifies the need for fee increases. The Order itself presents the amended fee schedule.
Implementation methods: The amendment is implemented through a replacement of Part 4 of the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2014. The new regulations are clearly set out in the Schedule to the Order.
Legal/historical basis: The Order is made under the powers conferred by section 25(1) and (2) of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, following the RCVS's exercise of powers under section 11 of the same Act.

Arguments Against

Potential impacts: The fee increases may impose a financial burden on veterinary professionals, potentially affecting smaller practices or newly qualified graduates.
Implementation challenges: Ensuring clear communication of the changes to all affected veterinary professionals to avoid non-compliance with the fee changes.
Alternative approaches: The RCVS might explore other avenues to increase revenue and cover costs, such as increased efficiency or seeking additional external funding.
Unintended effects: The fee increase could potentially discourage some individuals from registering or maintaining registration, impacting the overall number of practicing veterinary professionals.

Citation and commencement

This Order may be cited as the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations Order of Council 2025 and comes into force on 1st April 2025.

This section establishes the official title of the Order as the "Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations Order of Council 2025" and sets its effective date as April 1st, 2025.

Approval

The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 set out in the Schedule are approved.

The Order formally approves the regulations detailed in the attached Schedule.

This is the main function of the order, giving legal force to the fee changes.

Revocation

The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations Order of Council 2024 is revoked.

This section revokes the prior 2024 Order concerning veterinary registration fees, replacing it with the current amendments.

This ensures only the most current regulation is in effect.

Schedule The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Article 2

The Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in exercise of its powers under section 11 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, makes the following Regulations.

For Part 4 (fees payable) of the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2014, substitute—

“Part 4 Fees payable [Tables 1-6 detailing revised fees]

This schedule contains the amended regulations concerning fees.

Specifically, it replaces Part 4 of the 2014 Regulations with updated fee tables (Tables 1-6) for various types of veterinary registration and registration changes.

These tables set the new fee amounts in pounds (£).

Pursuant to a resolution of the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on 16th January 2025, the Common Seal of the said Royal College was affixed on the 30th January 2025 in the presence of— [Signatures and Titles]

This section records the formal authentication of the regulations by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, including the date the seal was affixed and the signatures of relevant members and officers.

Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Order)

This Order approves the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 made by the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (“RCVS”) under section 11 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 on 30th January 2025. Those Regulations substitute a new Part 4 of the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2014 (“the 2014 Regulations”) (S.I. 2014/3493).

The new Part 4 of the 2014 Regulations, which takes effect from 1st April 2025, provides for increases of approximately 4% in the fees for registration and retention of names in the register of the RCVS.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

This explanatory note summarizes the Order's purpose, providing additional context.

It clarifies that the fee increases are roughly 4% and that a full impact assessment wasn't deemed necessary due to the anticipated minimal effect on the public, private, and voluntary sectors.

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