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Applications - Veterinary premises

Annual registration of veterinary practice premises

From 1 April 2009, veterinary practice premises have had to be registered in order for veterinary surgeons to supply medicines from them.

The purpose of the Register is to enable the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to fulfil its obligations under European law to maintain and improve traceability of, and accountability for, veterinary medicines. Registered premises are inspected by the VMD.

We hold the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises on behalf of the VMD.

There is an annual fee for the registration of veterinary practice premises. Please see our fees page.

The registration of veterinary practice premises is due on 1 April each year. An invoice is issued for payment up to four weeks before the due date to those practice premises which are on the Register. 

Any fees not received by 1 April each year, may result in the premises being removed from the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises and the supply of any medicines will need to cease immediately.

The annual fee for premises accredited under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) includes the annual registration fee for veterinary practice premises. Premises in the Practice Standards Scheme have inspections undertaken by RCVS inspectors, not by the VMD.

Registering a new veterinary practice premises

To register a new premises, please complete the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises Form (see the 'Related documents' box). You will also need to pay a registration fee.

Payment can be made online via the RCVS website.  You will receive a pre-registration email, after your completed form is received, with log in credentials to set up a account to pay.

Please note the registration fee covers the registration of the premises until the next renewal date (1 April) each year.

Information regarding the types of premises which require registration may be viewed on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

How to complete the form

In order to register your premises, please complete all relevant sections of the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises Form and submit it by email to [email protected]

If you are part of a practice group then future invoices for the annual registration fee will be sent to the Head Office of your practice group.

If your premises is a veterinary practice premises open to the public you will be sent an additional form to complete, which will ensure your practice details are listed in full on our online search tool Find a Vet, a leading facility for finding a veterinary practice in the UK, which is used by the public and profession alike.

Moving to a new veterinary practice premises

If you move premises, or open a new premises, a new application form must be submitted for those premises and a registration fee, per premises, must also be paid. Please complete the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises Form. The form should be submitted to us using one of the methods listed at the bottom of this page.

Closing a veterinary practice premises

To close a veterinary practice premises, please complete the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises Removal Form. The form should be submitted to the address below.

View the supporting guidance to the Code of Professional Conduct: Veterinary medicines (Chapter 4) 

Contact details

For any queries, please contact the Registration Department on 0207 202 0707 or [email protected].