Recommendation 14

Reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA) presents an important opportunity to modernise regulation, support a more flexible workforce, and strengthen public confidence. Reform is clearly needed, but it must be carefully designed, with clear definitions of roles and responsibilities and sufficient flexibility to remain fit for purpose as the profession evolves. We therefore welcome Defra’s commitment to engage the sector and consult on priorities for a new VSA. While reform is long overdue and the Act is nearly 60 years old, it is better to take an additional 18 months to two years to 26 deliver a phased, wellplanned approach. The CMA remedies are seen by the government as a “stopgap” ahead of wider VSA reform, but this could risk undermining the longterm legislative change required and pre-empting or complicating more comprehensive reform. (Conclusion, Paragraph 43)