Section 21 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA) provides power to make Orders in Council to give effect to any agreement between Ireland and the UK concerning veterinary surgeons. There are currently no plans to introduce any such Order.
The VSA has previously been amended by Order in Council under section 2(2) European Communities Act 1972 (ECA). Such Orders in Council may be made for the purpose of implementing EC obligations. DEFRA plans to make such an Order shortly concerning the mutual recognition of professional qualifications as between EC member states.
Other than the forthcoming mutual recognition Order, DEFRA does not intend to amend the VSA by Order in Council. My officials recently held a very constructive and helpful meeting with the President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to discuss proposals from the RCVS Council to modernise the Veterinary Surgeons Act. We are currently considering these proposals and will continue to work closely with the RCVS on this issue.