Dr Neil Hudson MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Member of Parliament for Epping Forest, has reaffirmed his call for urgent reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 during DEFRA questions in the House of Commons.
The Act governs who may practise veterinary surgery in the UK, protecting animal welfare by ensuring only appropriately qualified professionals diagnose, treat, and operate on animals. However, nearly six decades on, the legislation no longer reflects modern veterinary practice. It fails to recognise the realities of team-based care, the expanded role of veterinary nurses, technological advances, and today’s expectations for transparency, accountability, and high animal welfare standards.
As the first veterinary surgeon elected to the House of Commons since 1884, Dr Hudson has long urged the Government to modernise this outdated framework. He emphasised that reform is essential to support the veterinary workforce, improve regulation, and strengthen animal health, welfare, biosecurity and public health across the UK.
Dr Hudson also voiced concern over DEFRA’s recent communications on the Veterinary Surgeons Act, warning that the Department’s messaging appeared to conflate the Veterinary Surgeons Act reform with the Competition and Markets Authority’s inquiry into pricing of veterinary services. He cautioned that this confusion shifted focus away from professional regulation and animal welfare, triggering unnecessary anxiety within the sector.
In the Chamber, Dr Hudson MP said to the DEFRA Secretary:
“I declare a professional and a personal interest as a veterinary surgeon and Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
"I welcome that the Government has launched a consultation to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. This long-overdue reform is necessary and can deliver significant benefits for animal health and welfare, biosecurity and public health.
"However, I have serious concerns about DEFRA’s communications that conflated reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act with the Competition and Markets Authority Inquiry, resulting in a media narrative focused on veterinary pricing.
"This has caused real distress across the sector, among frontline vets, nurses and reception staff, impacting morale and mental health. I have been contacted by voices from across the profession expressing their extreme alarm at this approach.
"Mr Speaker, can the Government reassure us that they will work closely with key stakeholders to get this vital, much-needed legislation right? And can they guarantee that they will prioritise the parliamentary time it requires?”
Speaking afterwards, Dr Hudson MP said:
“As a veterinary surgeon, I know how vital it is that the Veterinary Surgeons Act is brought up to date for the modern age.”
“The Government must engage meaningfully with the sector to ensure the reforms deliver their full potential for animal health and welfare, biosecurity and public health.
“I am also deeply concerned that recent conflated messaging around veterinary pricing has undermined morale and mental health among frontline staff. I will continue to press the Government to work collaboratively with the profession to prevent this damaging narrative from taking hold again and to prioritise the necessary parliamentary time.”
