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RCVS responds to union criticism
RCVS chief executive Nick Stace.
RCVS chief executive Nick Stace.

Union concerns over new Royal Charter

The RCVS has defended its plans for  a new Royal charter following criticism from the union Unite.

The college said much of the comment from the union was outdated or misguided.

Unite, which embraces the British Veterinary Union (BVU),  said RCVS should not be the "judge and jury" for the industry and that it had written to the Government asking for the Professional Standards Authority to have scrutiny of the RCVS.

BVU chair Dr Shams Mir said: “The RCVS proposed new Royal Charter could be exploited by the RCVS to give itself proxy powers to introduce incontestable new regulatory measures.”

However, Nick Stace, chief executive of RCVS said: "Unite's suggestion that veterinary regulation should be under the scrutiny of the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) is misguided because the PSA is there to oversee regulation in the human healthcare sector and the RCVS already has Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Privy Council oversight.

“Its further thoughts around the RCVS disciplinary process are out of date and missing the point.

"Unite is calling for the College to no longer 'set the rules and hand down judgments', when in fact last year we successfully achieved a Legislative Reform Order, backed by the profession, to ensure that our Disciplinary and Preliminary Investigation Committees will become independent from council."

He also responded to claims from Unite that there was long standing discontent over the RCVS' disciplinary procedures. Mr Stace said feedback through its First Rate Regulator Initiative showed the profession has confidence in these procedures.

“The First Rate Regulator initiative is also leading to significant improvements in the way that complaints are handled, including speed to resolution. We would be delighted to meet with Unite to put them right where they are factually wrong, and hear what they have to say,” Mr Stace said.

Consultation over the first draft of the new charter, finished on Friday.

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.