Defra has opened an eight-week UK-wide consultation on proposals to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, describing it as the first major overhaul of veterinary legislation in around 60 years. The consultation opened on 28 January 2026 and closes on 25 March 2026.
The proposals are wide-ranging and include changes that could directly affect day-to-day clinical practice, professional regulation, and the way veterinary businesses are overseen. Defra says the reforms are intended to modernise regulation and governance, and to make veterinary services easier for the public to understand and navigate.
What’s in scope
Defra’s proposals include:
- A new licence to practise model
- A new fitness to practise approach
- Formal legal recognition of veterinary nurses
- Regulation of veterinary businesses (not just individual professionals)
The announcement also signalled potential changes in areas closely watched by the Competition and Markets Authority’s ongoing investigation into veterinary services, including pricing transparency, ownership disclosure, and complaints handling.
Why vets should engage
This consultation is likely to shape the “rules of the road” for the profession for decades. Decisions made now could influence:
- How clinical responsibility is defined within teams and businesses
- How professional standards are measured and enforced
- How practices evidence quality, governance and client communication
- How regulation reflects modern caseloads, workforce pressures and service delivery models
Rob Williams, BVA president, said: “Vets play a vital role in society, from caring for the nation’s animals and supporting our farmers and food production, through to assisting international trade, disease control and public health.
“If we’re to continue delivering this work effectively, we urgently need reformed veterinary legislation, and those changes will impact how we go about all aspects of our work. It’s therefore imperative that colleagues engage with Defra’s proposals, ensure their voices are heard and grasp this opportunity to shape veterinary legislation that’s fit for the 21st century.”
How to respond
Defra advises the full consultation may take up to four hours, but respondents don’t need to complete every section. It is possible to skip chapters, save progress, and return later.
Responses can be submitted:
- Online via Defra’s consultation portal, or
- By downloading the response document and submitting it by email to Defra’s dedicated consultation inbox, or by post to the Freepost address listed in the consultation materials.
