A new regime for fish vets?
The UK government is consulting on proposed changes that could usher in a new regulatory framework for anyone providing veterinary services relating to fish. At the annual Fish Veterinary Society (FVS) conference in Edinburgh last month, Ronnie Soutar, Head of Veterinary Services, Scottish Sea Farms, explained what implications these might have and the initial response of the FVS.
Consultation on the government’s proposals closed on 25 March.
As he put it, it will be important to avoid unintended consequences of the legislation, which is intended to provide better regulation for the veterinary profession.
Much of the attention around this proposed legislation has been focused on services for companion animals, especially the perception that veterinary services for pet owners have become too expensive.
But, as Soutar explained, the legislation is not all about companion animal practices, and it will have implications for fish veterinary specialists.
What is currently being laid out is enabling legislation, with detailed regulations to follow – but as Soutar pointed out , it will be important to ensure lawmakers get the framework right at the outset.
The proposed legislation covers:
- Licence to practise: modernising registration by moving to a licence to practise system for the whole veterinary team.
- Fitness to practise: updating the fitness to practise processes to protect the public and animal health and welfare in line with other healthcare professionals.
- Regulation of veterinary/animal healthcare businesses: Regulation of businesses – not just individuals, as at present – to safeguard animals and the public/consumers.
- Governance – Reforming the regulator to meet the government’s vision for the regulatory system and specific objectives for the veterinary professions and sector.
The FVS also supports the proposed inclusion of fish as “animals” under the proposed Act, to align with the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022.
The FVS is unusual as, while it is a division of the BVA, it also includes members who are not qualified vets – because care for fish was not included in the existing legislation, which goes back to 1966. There is currently no professional body for these non-veterinary members, but the proposed legislation would restrict who would be allowed to carry out a wide range of “veterinary acts”, including those involving fish.
The FVS view is that these individuals should be licensed. As Soutar put it: “There are many non-vets in this field who do good work, but we do have concerns about veterinary acts that people who are not well trained might be carrying out.”
The FVS therefore argues that there should be a regulated profession for non-vets working in the field of fish health, as a new category of “fish health professionals”. This would provide clear career paths and also help vets with overseas qualifications, who would otherwise have to seek full qualification in the UK, even if they are not providing healthcare for non-fish species.
More information on the proposed reforms can be found on the UK government’s website.
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