The Veterinary Surgeons’ Qualifications (European Recognition) Regulations 2008

Section 1A (functions of the College as competent authority) U.K.

1.  After section 1 (the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) insert the following—

“The College’s European functions U.K.

1A    Functions of the College as competent authority

(1) For the purposes of Directive 2005/36/EC the College is the competent authority in the United Kingdom as concerns veterinary surgeons.

(2) The designation of the College under subsection (1) does not extend to the awarding of veterinary degrees.

(3) In consequence of its designation under subsection (1), the College shall in the United Kingdom carry out (in particular) the mutual-recognition functions as concerns veterinary surgeons.

(4) The carrying-out of the following functions in the United Kingdom is not entrusted to the College by subsection (3)—

(a) the function of awarding veterinary degrees;

(b) any other mutual-recognition functions the carrying-out of which, as concerns veterinary surgeons, is entrusted to any person by or under any enactment other than this section.

(5) Each university in the United Kingdom for which a recognition order is in force is for the purposes of Directive 2005/36/EC a competent authority in the United Kingdom as concerns the awarding of veterinary degrees.

(6) The College, in its capacity as a competent authority, shall—

(a) work in close collaboration with competent authorities of other relevant European States;

(b) provide assistance to competent authorities of other relevant European States in accordance with and in order to facilitate the application of Directive 2005/36/EC; and

(c) ensure the confidentiality of the information which it sends to or receives from a competent authority in another relevant European State.

(7) The College shall exchange information with competent authorities of other relevant European States regarding—

(a) disciplinary action taken;

(b) criminal sanctions imposed; or

(c) any other serious, specific circumstances,

where the action is, or the sanctions or circumstances are, likely to have consequences for the pursuit of activities under this Act or under Directive 2005/36/EC.

(8) In exchanging information under subsection (7), the College shall respect personal data protection legislation in the United Kingdom that implements—

(a) Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data; or

(b) Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector.

(9) In this section “mutual-recognition functions” means the functions specified in Directive 2005/36/EC that a relevant European State, in giving effect to that Directive, must or may cause to become functions of any of the authorities and bodies designated in that State as competent authorities for the purposes of that Directive.”.