This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Rejected petition Review the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Regulation of Veterinary services.
Change the standard of evidence for RCVS bringing disciplinary action from "beyond all reasonable doubt" to something where reflection and improvement is mandatory and vets are held accountable.
Regulate veterinary services so that corporations are held accountable for the services they provide.
More details
The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 has not been looked at in parliament since 2008. No legal changes were made at this time.
Currently the RCVS do not pursue 99% of complaints due to the burden of proof being "beyond all reasonable doubt". This is due to the legal framework set out in the 1966 Act.
Large corporations have been permitted to buy up veterinary practices. They are unregulated and this is impacting on animal welfare and the experience of the British public in accessing veterinary services. They are currently not accountable for any failings.
Animals are suffering for money. We are meant to be a nation of animal lovers.
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.
We can't accept your petition because the UK Government and Parliament aren't responsible for the issue you raise. As set out in the 1966 Act, the rules of evidence are a matter for the RCVS, not the UK Government or Parliament.
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.