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.
This update covers the storage of controlled drugs in vehicles and the introduction of a requirement for practice-specific suicide prevention plans. It also outlines changes to the prescribing cascade in Northern Ireland, and minor updates to Chapters 4 and 23 of the supporting guidance.
The first of the new twice-yearly updates on Code/guidance changes, this article provides information on written prescription validity periods and ‘repeats’, changes to Chapter 23 regarding the use of ‘specialist’ when promoting veterinary services, and Chapter 2 updates on maintaining professional boundaries with clients.
Standards and Advice update: December 2024 –providing emergency care to wildlife
This update includes a reminder on the obligations of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to provide 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief to wildlife.
Standards and Advice update: October 2024 – amendments to the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR)
This update outlines the amendments made to VMR in England, Wales and Scotland, with links to VMD guidance on the changes. The main amendments involve new offences relating to misuse of the cascade and submitting non-repeat written prescriptions a retailer more than once, and rules around the wholesale supply, prescribing, and advertising, of veterinary medicinal products.
A letter from the RCVS President to veterinary employers detailing how best to support their employee’s professional obligations regarding consumer rights and professional autonomy.
Standards and Advice update: October 2024 – new FAQ on mutual clients in the farm sector
This update highlights a new FAQ on mutual clients in the farm sector. It also covers an update to Chapter 3 in relation publicly displaying information about 24-hour emergency cover, and a Core Standards of PSS update around medicine labels including the prescribing vet’s details.
This update covers changes to Chapter 23 regarding use of the word ‘specialist’ when referencing non-UK qualifications and in practice names, and how to describe experience or seniority in titles when making a referral. It also looks at updates to Chapter 1 around providing information to clients when making referral recommendations.
The Standards Committee provides guidance on whether vets can remotely prescribe CDs for the euthanasia of wildlife, and whether lay people from wildlife rescue centres can administer CDs to euthanise wildlife.
Standards and Advice update: April 2024 – new guidance on compulsory microchipping of cats
This update covers changes to Chapter 29 of the supporting guidance, in which cats will now be subject to compulsory microchipping in the United Kingdom, in line with the introduction of Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023. It also covers updates to Chapter 8, regarding the scanning of microchips when a healthy cat is brought in for euthanasia.
This update highlights changes to advice from the Standards Committee around who is legally entitled to carry out canine intravaginal AI, confirming that lay people are unable to carry out this act of veterinary surgery at this time.
This update covers discussion of the new guidance on the safe storage of quinalbarbitone. Also covered is the detail of the updated guidance on breaching client confidentiality.
Please note: this article contains references to self-harm and suicide.
This update looks at changes to Chapter 23 of the supporting guidance, in which veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses can endorse certain veterinary products or services, as well as changes to Chapter 9 regarding recommending or favouring animal insurance. It also covers changes to Chapter 25 around how to determine whether a study, procedure or series can be considered RVP or CVR.
This update covers changes to Chapter 2 that give greater clarity to veterinary surgeons or nurses who wish to exercise a conscientious objection to certain procedures or services. It also highlights that the temporary remote prescribing dispensation introduced at the start of the coronavirus pandemic has now come to an end.
This update reminds veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses about the rules and responsibilities around pet/animal insurance, particularly when recommending, promoting, or even setting up, a particular insurance policy for clients.
Standards and Advice update: July 2021 – VMD guidance on the destruction of controlled drugs
This update covers VMD guidance on who is able to witness the destruction of controlled drugs. It also points to FAQs 4 and 5 of the RCVS Common Medicine Pitfalls guidance for further information on the safe disposal of controlled drugs.
This update covers changes to Chapters 2 and 18 of the supporting guidance in relation to having a suitably trained person monitoring anaesthesia alongside a veterinary surgeon during procedures. It also provides a reminder to veterinary surgeons completing electronic veterinary certification, to ensure security measures are in place when using electronic signatures and online forms.
This update covers changes to Chapter 15 regarding the Health Protocol to improve the language and readability of the guidance. It also provides a reminder to veterinary professionals around using human-licensed paracetamol in veterinary practice.
Controlled Drugs Guidance – A to Z
On this page, you can find 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
On this page, you can find answers to the most frequently asked questions received on issues related to POM-Vs.
Common medicines pitfalls FAQs
On this page, you can find a series of frequently asked questions to help navigate some of the more common medicines issues.
On this page, you can find 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), 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 and clinical veterinary research FAQs
On this page, you can find frequently asked questions about routine veterinary practice (RVP) and clinical veterinary research (CVR).
RCVS complementary medicines statement and FAQs
On this page, you can find the RCVS Council’s position statement on the veterinary use of complementary and alternative medicines, including homeopathy, as well as answers to some frequently asked questions.
