Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966

19 Restriction of practice of veterinary surgery by unqualified persons. U.K.

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, no individual shall practise, or hold himself out as practising or as being prepared to practise, veterinary surgery unless he is registered in the register of veterinary surgeons or the supplementary veterinary register, and an individual who acts in contravention of this subsection shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1 the prescribed sum];

(b) on conviction on indictment to a fine.

F2 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) The Council may make regulations exempting from subsection (1) of this section the carrying out or performance of any veterinary treatment, test or operation prescribed by the regulations, subject to compliance with prescribed conditions, by students of veterinary surgery of any prescribed class.

(4) Subsection (1) of this section shall not prohibit—

(a) the carrying out of [F3 any procedure duly authorised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986];

(b) the doing of anything specified in Part I of Schedule 3 to this Act and not excluded by Part II of that Schedule;

(c) the performance by a registered medical practitioner of an operation on an animal for the purpose of removing an organ or tissue for use in the treatment of human beings;

(d) the carrying out or performance of any treatment, test or operation by a registered medical practitioner or a registered dentist at the request of a person registered in the register of veterinary surgeons or the supplementary veterinary register;

(e) the carrying out or performance of any minor treatment, test or operation specified in an order made by the Ministers after consultation with the Council, so long as any conditions so specified are complied with.

(5) The Ministers may, after consultation with the Council and with persons appearing to the Ministers to represent interests so appearing to be substantially affected, by order amend the provisions of Schedule 3 to this Act.

(6) Any order under subsection (4) or (5) of this section may be varied or revoked by a subsequent order of the Ministers under that subsection made after the like consultation.

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1 S. 19: for previous exercises of this power see Index to Government Orders.

P2 S. 19(5)(6) power exercised by S.I. 1991/1412

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 19(4) substituted (E.W.) by Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c. 43), s. 32(2); (S.) by Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21), s. 289B; and (N.I.) by The Fines and Penalties (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 (S.I. 1984/703), art. 4

F2 Ss. 19(2), 20(6) repealed by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 13

F3 Words substituted by Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (c. 14, SIF 4:5), s. 27(2), Sch. 3 para. 5

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 19 extended (N.I.) by Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 (c. 7), s. 14(2)

C2 S. 19 excluded by S.I. 1980/1951, art. 5(9)(a)

C3 S. 19: transfer of functions (27.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/794, art. 3(1)(2) (with art. 6)