The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations Order of Council 2010

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order approves the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2010 (“the Regulations”) made by the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (“the RCVS”) under section 11 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (“the Act”). The new Regulations revoke the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2005, the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 and the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 and replace them with the Regulations set out in the Schedule. This Order revokes the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations Order of Council 2005, the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations Order of Council 2007 and the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations Order of Council 2008. It comes into force on 31st March 2011.

The Regulations provide for the inclusion in the register of the information which each category of registrant is required to provide under the Act. They contain a requirement for registrants to confirm practising status and address on an annual basis. Failure to return the requested confirmation within six months of the original request may result in removal from the register. They also provide that registrants may be requested to return an annual declaration detailing the continuing professional development which they have undertaken with the confirmation of status and address.

The Regulations provided for changes in fees payable for registration and retention of names on the registers of the RCVS as set out in the Schedule (Table of Fees Payable). The changes are generally increases in the region of 2%, with the following exceptions.

The fee for restoration to the register after removal following a direction of the Disciplinary Committee is increased by 103%. A new fee of £75 for restoration to the register after removal for failure to confirm practising status and address has been introduced. However, the fee for restoration after voluntary removal has been reduced by 49%.

An administration charge of £35 is included in the fees for retaining a name on the register where that fee is paid on or after 1 April, to reflect the extra administrative costs to the RCVS of late payment processing. If an application for registration is refused, or is withdrawn before registration, 15% of the appropriate registration fee is retained as an administration charge to contribute to the costs to the RCVS of considering the application.

The retention fee previously payable on initial registration has been incorporated into the registration fee. Graduates who register in the calendar year in which they graduate are only required to pay half the full fee.

No impact assessment has been produced for this Instrument.