The resources on this page supplement our Code of Conduct and Supporting Guidance. Links to these can also be found within relevant parts of the Code.
Standards and Advice: Autumn 2025 - storage of controlled drugs
The latest biannual update from the RCVS Standards and Advice Team, with updates on the storage of controlled drugs and how the prescribing cascade will work in Northern Ireland from the beginning of 2026, among others.
Standards and Advice - Spring 2025 - RCVS Code of Professional Conduct and its supporting guidance
The first of our twice-yearly updates on the latest decisions made by the RCVS Standards Committee regarding the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct and its supporting guidance. Published in April 2025.
Following on from the decision by our Standards Committee earlier in the year regarding the euthanasia of wildlife by lay people in wildlife rescue centres, we are asking the professions to refresh their knowledge of their responsibilities around what to do when wildlife is presented to a veterinary practice.
Standards and Advice - October 2024 - amended Veterinary Medicines Regulations
As the profession will be aware, the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 was amended by the Veterinary Medicines (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2024 (VMRs 2013 (as amended)) which together set out the controls on the marketing, manufacture, distribution, possession, and administration of veterinary medicines and medicated feed.
Standards and Advice - October 2024 - consumer choice and professional autonomy
On Wednesday 20 November, RCVS President Linda Belton wrote to veterinary employers to remind them of the RCVS guidance around consumer rights and professional autonomy and highlighted the role that employers have in ensuring and supporting compliance with the professional obligations of their employees.
Standards and Advice - October 2024 - FAQ surrounding mutual clients in the farm sector
Following discussions with individual veterinary surgeons working in the farm sector and the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), the Standards Committee has agreed a new frequently asked question and answer.
Standards and Advice - August 2024 - use of professional status qualifications
Following a recent review, the RCVS Standards Committee has agreed a package of new guidance in relation to use of professional status qualifications.
Standards and Advice - May 2024 - euthanasia of wildlife via controlled drugs
At its April meeting, the RCVS Standards Committee considered two questions relating to euthanasia of wildlife via controlled drugs that had been posed to it by representatives from the wildlife veterinary sector.
Standards and Advice - April 2024 - guidance on compulsory microchipping of cats
This update follows a decision by the RCVS Standards Committee to agree new guidance on compulsory microchipping of cats following the introduction of legislation in England.
Standards and Advice - June 2023 - canine intravaginal AI
Following a decision of the RCVS Standards Committee lay people are now being advised to cease offering of intravaginal artificial insemination ('AI') breeding services for dogs.
Standards and Advice - January 2023 - the safe use and storage of the barbiturate quinalbarbitone
This month’s Standards & Advice update details changes we’ve made to our supporting guidance to the Code on client confidentiality (Chapter 14), as well as changes to both the Code supporting guidance and the Practice Standards Scheme guidance on the safe use and storage of the barbiturate quinalbarbitone.
Standards and Advice - June 2022 - protection of title, advertising, and endorsement
The Standards Committee has approved changes to Chapter 23 of the supporting guidance to the Code of Professional Conduct, which deals with advertising and publicity. Under the new guidance, veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses may endorse veterinary products and services, provided that the product or service is underpinned by sound scientific principles or has a recognised evidence base.
Standards and Advice - November 2021 - conscientious objection
At a recent meeting the RCVS Standards Committee approved new guidance to give greater clarity to veterinary surgeons who wish to exercise a conscientious objection.
Standards and Advice - August 2021 - rules and responsibilities around pet/animal insurance
In this month's Standards & Advice update, we would like to remind veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses of the rules and responsibilities around pet/animal insurance, particularly around recommending or even setting up a particular insurance policy to your clients.
Standards and Advice - July 2021 - destruction of controlled drugs
In the current climate, we recognise it may be more difficult than usual for some practices to find a witness for the destruction of controlled drugs (CDs). However, having a stockpile of controlled drugs waiting to be destroyed could pose risks, for example in relation to safe storage.
This month’s update follows the latest meeting of the Standards Committee, which took place at the beginning of the month. One of the major decisions at that meeting was an agreement on a new guidance-based approach to microchip scanning of dogs ahead of euthanasia, which has also been agreed by BVA and Defra, the detail of which has been published elsewhere.
Standards and Advice - November 2020 - language and readability of the Health Protocol guidance
While much of our Standards & Advice Team’s work since the last update in June this year has been dominated by the increasing complexity of the coronavirus-related restrictions across the four nations of the UK, the team and our Standards Committee has still been busy looking at how we can improve, refine and update the supporting guidance to the Code, and advice to the profession, both on an ongoing basis, and in response to particular circumstances.
This month we will update you on our work to improve the language and readability of the Health Protocol guidance, and a reminder around using human-licenced paracetamol in veterinary practice.
Controlled Drugs Guidance – A to Z
Guidance in relation to the storage, supply, and prescribing of Controlled Drugs (CDs). This guidance seeks to explore the most common areas upon which advice is sought and draws together key parts of existing legislation, professional conduct obligations, and relevant guidance from regulators and professional bodies.
Prescribing POM-Vs: joint guidance from the RCVS and VMD
The most frequently-asked questions received on issues related to POM-Vs.
To help you navigate some of the more common medicines issues, we have produced a series of FAQs.
Frequently asked questions about advertising practice names.
On this page, you can find a range of resources to help in understanding the provisions of Schedule 3, including our formal guidance, a range of case studies and our 'SUPERB' checklist poster.
On this page, you can find our guidance on 'under care' and prescribing prescription-only veterinary medicines (POM-Vs), which came into effect on 1 September 2023, plus a variety of resources to help you understand how it should be followed in different practice scenarios, and in relation to different species.
Routine veterinary practice FAQ
Routine veterinary practice (RVP) refers to procedures and techniques performed on animals by registered veterinary surgeons (or registered veterinary nurses under their direction) in the course of their professional duties, which ensure the health and welfare of animals committed to their care. These can be thought of as the routine, established, procedures undertaken on animals every day.
College publishes complementary medicines statement
RCVS Council yesterday (Thursday 2 November 2017) approved a new position statement on the veterinary use of complementary and alternative medicines, including homeopathy.
