The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (Schedule 3 Amendment) Order 1988

SCHEDULE 3 EXEMPTIONS FROM RESTRICTIONS ON PRACTICE OF VETERINARY SURGERY

PART 1 TREATMENT AND OPERATIONS WHICH MAY BE GIVEN OR CARRIED OUT BY UNQUALIFIED PERSONS

1.  Any minor medical treatment given to an animal by its owner, by another member of the household of which the owner is a member or by a person in the employment of the owner.

2.  Any medical or minor surgical treatment (not involving entry into a body cavity) given, otherwise than for reward, to an animal used in agriculture, as defined in the Agriculture Act 1947, by the owner of the animal or by a person engaged or employed in caring for animals so used.

3.  The rendering in an emergency of first aid for the purpose of saving life or relieving pain or suffering.

4.  The performance by any person of or over the age of eighteen of any of the following operations, that is to say —

(a) the castration of a male animal or the caponising of an animal, whether by chemical means or otherwise;

(b) the docking of the tail of a lamb;

(c) the docking of the tail of a dog before its eyes are open;

(d) the amputation of the dew claws of a dog before its eyes are open.

5.  The performance, by any person of the age of seventeen undergoing instruction in animal husbandry, of any operation mentioned in paragraph 4(a) or (b) above and the disbudding of a calf by any such person or by a person of or over the age of eighteen undergoing such instruction, if, in each case, either of the following conditions is complied with, that is to say —

(a) the instruction in animal husbandry is given by a person registered in the register of veterinary surgeons or the supplementary veterinary register and the operation is performed under his direct personal supervision;

(b) the instruction in animal husbandry is given at a recognised institution and the operation is performed under the direct personal supervision of a person appointed to give such instruction at the institution.

In this paragraph “recognised institution” means —

(i) as respects Great Britain, an institution maintained or assisted (in England and Wales) by a local education authority or (in Scotland) by an education authority or in either case an institution for the giving of further education as respects which a grant is paid by the Secretary of State or an institution recognised for the purposes of this paragraph by the Secretary of State; and

(ii) as respects Northern Ireland, an agricultural college maintained by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.

PART II EXCLUSIONS FROM PROVISIONS OF PART I

(a)

the castration of a male animal being —

(i)

a horse, pony, ass or mule,

(ii)

a bull, boar or goat which has reached the age of two months,

(iii)

a ram which has reached the age of three months, or

(iv)

a cat or dog;

(b)

the spaying of a cat or dog;

(c)

the removal (otherwise than in an emergency for the purpose of saving life or relieving pain or suffering) of any part of the antlers of a deer before the velvet of the antlers is frayed and the greater part of it has been shed;

(d)

the desnooding of a turkey which has reached the age of 21 days;

(e)

the removal of the combs of any poultry which have reached the age of 72 hours;

(f)

the cutting of the toes of a domestic fowl or turkey which has reached the age of 72 hours;

(g)

the performance of a vasectomy or the carrying out of electro-ejaculation on any animal or bird kept for production of food, wool, skin or fur or for use in the farming of land;

(h)

the removal of the supernumerary teats of a calf which has reached the age of 3 months; or

(i)

the dehorning or disbudding of a sheep or goat, except the trimming of the insensitive tip of an ingrowing horn which, if left untreated, could cause pain or distress.

Revocation

3.  The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (Schedule 3 Amendment) Order 1982(1) is hereby revoked.

In Witness whereof the Official Seal of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is hereunto affixed on 15th March 1988.

L.S.

John Selwyn Gummer

Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Sanderson of Bowden

Minister of State, Scottish Office

14th March 1988

Peter Walker

Secretary of State for Wales

11th March 1988

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland on 15th March 1988.

W. H. Jack

Permanent Secretary

(1)

S.I. 1982/1885.