THE STATES, in pursuance of their Resolution of the 18^th July, 2024[a], and in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Animal Welfare (Enabling Provisions) (Guernsey) Law, 2008[b], and all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby order:-

Amendment of the Ordinance of 1987.

1. The Veterinary Surgery and Animal Welfare Ordinance, 1987[c] ("the principal Ordinance") is amended as follows.

Amendment of section 7 of the principal Ordinance.

2. In section 7 of the principal Ordinance -

(a) renumber the current provision "(1)", and

(b) immediately after the new subsection (1) of that section, insert the following subsections -

"(2) No person shall practise veterinary surgery unless -

(a) the person does so in or on behalf of a registered practice, or

(b) before so practising, the person has given the Board written notice of -

(i) that person's intention to practise veterinary surgery, and

(ii) the period of time during which that person intends to practise veterinary surgery in the Islands of Guernsey, Herm and Jethou.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) limits the effect of subsection (1).

(4) In this Ordinance, "registered practice" means a veterinary practice business registered under section 17B(2) as being carried on, from or at registered premises.".

Amendment of section 8 of the principal Ordinance.

3. In section 8(1)(b) of the principal Ordinance, for "in the Register of Veterinary Surgeons", substitute "as a veterinary surgeon in the Register".

Substitution of section 9 of the principal Ordinance.

4. For section 9 of the principal Ordinance, substitute the following section -

"The Register.

9. (1) The Committee shall establish and maintain a register to be called "the Register of Veterinary Surgeons, Nurses and Premises" containing -

(a) the particulars of persons registered as veterinary surgeons under section 10(2) or 13,

(b) the particulars of persons registered as veterinary nurses under section 17I, and

(2) Where the Committee is made aware that a recognised veterinary surgeon holds an Official Controls Qualification (Veterinary) (OCQ(V)), the Committee shall -

(a) annotate the Register to that effect, and

(b) include in the annotation the period of time for which the qualification remains valid.".

Amendment of section 10 of the principal Ordinance.

5. In section 10 of the principal Ordinance -

(a) for subsection (1), substitute the following subsection –

"(1) A person wishing to be registered as a veterinary surgeon in the Register may apply in that behalf to the Board -

(a) on payment of the prescribed fee (if any), and

(b) in the manner required by the Board.", and

(b) in subsection (2), for "him in the Register of Veterinary Surgeons by entering his name therein", substitute "that person as a veterinary surgeon in the Register by entering -

(a) that person's name,

(b) the name of the registered practice, if any, in or on behalf of which that person practises or will practise veterinary surgery, and

Insertion of new section 11A in the principal Ordinance.

6. Immediately after section 11, insert the following section -

"Duty to notify cessation of practise.

11A. (1) A recognised veterinary surgeon shall give written notice to the Board if he ceases to practise veterinary surgery in the Islands of Guernsey, Herm and Jethou.

(2) The notice required under subsection (1) shall be given -

(a) as soon as practicable, and

(b) in any event, no later than seven days after he has ceased to practise.".

Amendment of section 12 of the principal Ordinance.

7. In section 12 of the principal Ordinance -

(a) for "in the Register of Veterinary Surgeons", substitute "as a veterinary surgeon in the Register", and

(b) at the end of paragraph (b), delete the full stop and insert the following -

", or

Amendment of section 13 of the principal Ordinance.

8. In section 13 of the principal Ordinance, for "in the Register of Veterinary Surgeons", substitute "as a veterinary surgeon in the Register".

Substitution of section 14 of the principal Ordinance.

9. For section 14 of the principal Ordinance, substitute the following section -

"Publication of Register.

14. The Board shall publish the Register in any manner it considers appropriate.".

Amendment of section 16 of the principal Ordinance.

10. In section 16 of the principal Ordinance, for "Section 7(a) does not prohibit", substitute "Neither section 7(1)(a) nor section 7(2) prohibits or restricts".

Insertion of new Parts IIIA, IIIB and IIIC in the principal Ordinance.

11. Immediately after section 17 of the principal Ordinance, insert the following Parts -

"PART IIIA

RESTRICTIONS ON VETERINARY PRACTICE BUSINESS PREMISES

"Carrying on a veterinary practice business.

17A. (1) No person shall carry on a veterinary practice business at or from any premises other than registered premises.

(2) In this Ordinance -

"premises" includes any building or part of a building, place, vessel, vehicle or aircraft,

"registered premises" means premises registered under section 17B(2), and

"veterinary practice business" means a business that involves the practice of veterinary surgery by one or more recognised veterinary surgeons.

Registration of veterinary premises.

17B. (1) A practice owner wishing to register any premises in the Register may apply in that behalf to the Board -

(a) on payment of the prescribed fee (if any), and

(b) in the manner required by the Board.

(2) If the Board is satisfied that the requirements in subsection (3) are satisfied, the Board shall register those premises in the Register by entering -

(a) the address of those premises,

(b) the name of the veterinary practice business carried on from or at those premises,

(d) the name of the veterinary supervisor for those premises,

(e) the names of the recognised veterinary surgeons who practise, or will practise, veterinary surgery at or from those premises, and

(f) the names of the veterinary nurses who practise, or will practise, veterinary nursing at or from those premises.

(3) Subsection (2) refers to the following requirements -

(a) there is a veterinary supervisor for those premises, who is, or would when the premises are registered be, a recognised veterinary surgeon,

(b) the persons who practise or will practise veterinary surgery at or from those premises are, or would when so practising be, recognised veterinary surgeons,

(c) the persons who practise or will practise veterinary nursing at or from those premises are, or would when so practising be, registered veterinary nurses,

(d) those premises are in a satisfactory condition to be used for carrying on a veterinary practice business,

(e) those premises are designed, constructed and equipped in accordance with prescribed requirements (if any),

(f) arrangements for the management, control and operation of those premises, in relation to the practice of veterinary surgery at or from those premises, are in accordance with prescribed requirements (if any), and

(g) any other prescribed requirement.

(4) In this Ordinance -

"address", in relation to any mobile premises, includes location,

"practice owner", in relation to any premises, means the person who is, or is proposed to be, the owner of the veterinary practice business to be carried on from or at those premises,

"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made by the Board, and

"veterinary supervisor", in relation to any premises, means the veterinary surgeon responsible for supervising the practice of veterinary surgery at or from those premises.

Information in support of applications.

17C. On an application under section 17B(1), the Board -

(a) may require the applicant to furnish such information, evidence or documentation as it considers necessary to enable it to determine whether or not those premises should be registered, and

(b) may refuse to entertain the application if the applicant refuses or fails to furnish any such information, evidence or documentation.

Duties of practice owners.

17D. (1) A person registered as a practice owner of any registered premises shall give written notice to the Board in accordance with subsection (3) of -

(a) any change resulting or likely to result in the Board needing to update the information entered in the Register under section 17B(2) to maintain its accuracy,

(b) any change in the constitution or structure of the practice owner (if not an individual), that could reasonably call into question whether the requirements in section 17B(3) continue to be satisfied in relation to those premises, and

(c) any change in those premises, or the management, control and operation of those premises, that could reasonably call into question whether the requirements in section 17B(3) continue to be satisfied in relation to those premises.

(2) For the avoidance of doubt, the practice owner is required to give written notice to the Board under subsection (1)(a) where a person registered as a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse practising at or from those registered premises ceases to practise as a veterinary surgeon, or (as the case may be) veterinary nurse, at or from those premises.

(3) The notice required under subsection (1) shall be given -

(a) as soon as practicable, and

(b) in any event, no later than seven days after the change occurs.

Duration of registration.

17E. Unless earlier cancelled under section 17F, registration of any premises under section 17B has effect for a period of -

(a) three years, or

(b) any other period prescribed to replace the period in paragraph (a).

Cancellation of registration of premises.

17F. The Board shall cancel the registration of any premises if -

(a) in the Board's opinion, a requirement of section 17B(3) is no longer satisfied in relation to those premises, or

(b) if the practice owner registered for those premises submits a written request to the Board to cancel that registration.

PART IIIB

VETERINARY NURSES

Practice of veterinary nursing.

17G. (1) No person shall -

(a) practise, or hold himself out as practising or as being prepared to practise, veterinary nursing, or

(b) take or use the title of veterinary nurse, or any name, title, addition or description implying that that person is a veterinary nurse or is a practitioner of, or is qualified to practise, veterinary nursing,

unless that person is a registered veterinary nurse.

(2) In this Ordinance, "veterinary nursing" includes the following -

(a) provision of any medical treatment or minor surgery (not involving entry into a body cavity) to an animal under the direction of a veterinary surgeon who has the animal under the surgeon's care,

(b) administration of any vaccination or other medicine for treatment of an animal under the direction of a veterinary surgeon.

Meaning of "registered veterinary nurse".

17H. (1) A registered veterinary nurse is a person -

(a) whose name is entered in the list of veterinary nurses maintained by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), and

(b) who is registered as a veterinary nurse in the Register.

(2) A person who ceases to be registered as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b) ceases to be a registered veterinary nurse.

Registration of veterinary nurses.

17I. (1) A person wishing to be registered as a veterinary nurse in the Register may apply in that behalf to the Board -

(a) on payment of the prescribed fee (if any), and

(b) in the manner required by the Board.

(2) If the Board is satisfied that the person meets the requirements of section 17H(1)(a), it shall register that person as a veterinary nurse in the Register by entering -

(a) that person's name,

(b) the name of the registered practice, if any, in or on behalf of which that person practises or will practise veterinary nursing, and

Information in support of applications.

17J. On an application under section 17I(1), the Board -

(a) may require the applicant to furnish such information, evidence or documentation as it considers necessary to enable it to determine whether or not the applicant meets the requirements of section 17H(1)(a), and

(b) may refuse to entertain the application if the applicant refuses or fails to furnish any such information, evidence or documentation.

Duty to notify cessation of practice; cancellation of registrations.

17K. (1) A registered veterinary nurse shall give written notice to the Board if the nurse ceases to practise veterinary nursing in the Islands of Guernsey, Herm and Jethou.

(2) The notice required under subsection (1) shall be given -

(a) as soon as practicable, and

(b) in any event, no later than seven days after he so ceased to practise.

(3) The Board shall cancel the registration of any person as a veterinary nurse in the Register if -

(a) to its knowledge, the person ceases to meet the requirements of section 17H(1)(a),

(b) the person submits a written request to the Board to cancel his registration, or

part iiic

THE ANIMAL WELFARE (ENABLING PROVISIONS)

(GUERNSEY) LAW, 2008

Ordinance has effect as if made under the Animal Welfare Law.

17L. (1) This Ordinance shall have effect as if made under the Animal Welfare (Enabling Provisions) (Guernsey) Law, 2008.

(2) For the avoidance of doubt, an offence under this Ordinance is to be regarded as an offence under that Law for the purposes of the Animal Welfare (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2012.".

Amendment of section 21 of the principal Ordinance.

12. In section 21 of the principal Ordinance -

(a) in subsection (1)(b)(i), for "section 7(b) or 15", substitute "section 7(1)(b) or (2), 11A, 15, 17D, 17G(1)(b) or 17K(1)", and

(b) in subsection (2), immediately after "section 10(1),", insert "17B(1) or 17I(1),".

Insertion of new sections 21A and 21B in the principal Ordinance.

13. Immediately after section 21 of the principal Ordinance, insert the following sections -

"Exceptions, exemptions and defences.

21A. The Committee may make regulations for the following purposes -

(a) authorising anything which would otherwise be prohibited under Part III, IIIA or IIIB,

(b) providing for exceptions and defences to, and exemptions from, an offence under any provision of Part III, IIIA or IIIB.

Order and regulations to be laid before the States.

21B. Orders and regulations made under this Ordinance shall be laid before a meeting of the States as soon as possible; and, if at that or the next meeting the States resolve to annul them, cease to have effect, but without prejudice to anything done under them or to the making of new Orders or new regulations.".

Amendment of section 22 of the principal Ordinance.

14. In section 22 of the principal Ordinance -

(a) for the definition of "the Register of Veterinary Surgeons", substitute the following -

""the Register" or "the Register of Veterinary Surgeons, Nurses and Premises" means the register established and maintained under section 9,", and

(b) insert the following definitions in the appropriate alphabetical order -

""address" has the meaning given by section 17B(4),",

""practice owner" has the meaning given by section 17B(4),",

""premises" has the meaning given by section 17A(2),",

""prescribed" has the meaning given by section 17B(4),",

""registered practice" has the meaning given by section 7(4),",

""registered premises" has the meaning given by section 17A(2),",

""registered veterinary nurse" has the meaning given by section 17H,",

""veterinary nursing" has the meaning given by section 17G(2),",

""veterinary practice business" has the meaning given by section 17A(2),", and

""veterinary supervisor" has the meaning given by section 17B(4),".

Extent.

15. (1) This Ordinance shall have effect in the Islands of Guernsey, Herm and Jethou.

(2) For the avoidance of doubt, the amendments to the principal Ordinance made by this Ordinance have no effect in Alderney despite the Veterinary Surgery and Animal Welfare (Alderney) Ordinance, 1994[d].

Citation.

16. This Ordinance may be cited as the Veterinary Surgery and Animal Welfare (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.

Commencement.

17. This Ordinance shall come into force on the day appointed by Order of the Committee; and different dates may be appointed for different provisions and for different purposes.

[a] Article VI of Billet d'État No. XII of 2024.

[b] Order in Council No. XX of 2008; this enactment has been amended.

[c] Recueil d'Ordonnances Tome XXIV, p. 51; this enactment has been amended.

[d] Alderney Ordinance No. XVIII of 1994; this enactment has been amended.