British Veterinary Association (BVA) president Dr Rob Williams MRCVS has called for the veterinary profession to unite behind the much-needed reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act.
Addressing guests at the BVA’s 2025 Northern Ireland Dinner, Dr Williams highlighted the need for reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act to ensure the act reflects modern veterinary practice by regulating veterinary businesses, protecting the title of veterinary nurse and recognising allied professionals.
Calling for the sector and politicians to support and press for reform, Dr Williams said: “Securing veterinary medicines is vital for today, but if we want to safeguard the profession for the future, we also need to look at the framework that governs how we work. That’s why reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act is so important, because the challenges facing vets in Northern Ireland cannot be met with legislation that is nearly 60 years old.
“For change to succeed, we need the whole profession to be united, and we need political support in this room. Because modernising this legislation is not just about bureaucracy, it is about protecting animal health, safeguarding livelihoods, and ensuring Northern Ireland’s veterinary profession is ready for the future.”
Dr Williams went on to speak about the provisional decision by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which supported BVA’s long-standing calls for regulation for vet businesses, as part of wider reforms to the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act.
He said: “We have welcomed the strong call from CMA to reform the current regulatory framework particularly the call for regulation of veterinary businesses. The veterinary profession is a caring profession, we know we have high levels of trust from our clients and anything we can do to improve this through better sharing of information about treatment options and pricing of services is also to be welcomed.”
He also spoke about how, although the CMA’s focus is on services for household pets, there could be unintended consequences that undermine the sustainability of rural services, highlighting how BVA has continuously stressed that any changes must be proportionate, workable, and mindful of the realities of rural mixed veterinary practice.
BVA’s concerns about the CMA announcement were also raised, with Dr Williams reiterating how BVA is calling for clarity on the proposed introduction of comprehensive price lists and that it will work to engage with the CMA to ensure the veterinary voice is heard.
He added: “The challenges are real, but so too are the opportunities when we speak with a united voice. And I believe that together, we can secure a strong, sustainable future for the veterinary profession in Northern Ireland.”
