21/03/2026
The Veterinary Surgeons Act is being reviewed, and a consultation is now open. Some significant changes are proposed — but many of us only realised the potential impact quite recently, and time is running short.
Two key proposals:
Regulation of all “Allied Veterinary Services” — including chiropractic, farriery, animal behaviourists and others (potentially many more).
Replacing the current disciplinary system with a “Fitness to Practise” licence, where loss of licence could be decided on the civil standard of proof (“balance of probabilities”) rather than the criminal standard (“beyond reasonable doubt”).
🎥 Please watch this short explanation:
https://naturalvet.substack.com/p/reforming-care-or-restricting-compassion
📝 Then respond to the consultation:
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/reform-of-the-veterinary-surgeons-act/consultation
If you’re short on time, please focus on the first two sections:
Licence to Practise
Fitness to Practise
There is no specific mention of CAM, but you can raise it in the comments, and there is space for additional remarks at the end.
⏳ Deadline: 25 March
Your input could help shape the future of veterinary and allied animal care.
