Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Veterinary Surgeons' Qualifications (Recognition) (Switzerland and Croatia) Regulations 2013 and come into force on 18th December 2013.

Amendments of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966

2.  The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966(3) is amended as follows-

(a)in section 5A(10) (registration of Community rights entitled persons: European qualification, evidence of character)(4) for "(3)(d)" substitute "(3)(e)";

(b)in section 27(1) (interpretation)-

(i)in the definition of "national"(5) for "member" substitute "relevant European";

(ii)in the definition of "relevant European State"(6) after "means" insert "Switzerland or an";

(c)in Schedule 1A (registration of Community rights entitled person: European qualification)(7), Table A (recognised European qualifications)-

(i)after the entry relating to Bulgaria insert-

(ii)in the entry relating to Switzerland, in the column headed "Reference Date", insert "1/6/2002";

(d)in Schedule 1A, Table B (other qualifications acquired prior to member State membership of the European Union), before the entry relating to the Czech Republic insert-

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend provisions in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (c. 36) ("the Act") which implement Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ No. L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 22) so far as it applies to the practice of veterinary surgery in the United Kingdom.

Regulation 2(a) amends an incorrect cross-reference. Regulation 2(b)(i) extends the definition of a "national" to include all EEA States and Switzerland. Regulation 2(b)(ii) and (c)(ii) provides for the recognition of the Swiss veterinary qualification listed in Schedule 1A to the Act on the same basis as the equivalent veterinary qualifications awarded in the EEA States listed in that Schedule. Regulation 2(c)(i) and (d) provides for the recognition of the Croatian veterinary qualifications inserted into Schedule 1A to the Act, Tables A and B.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as only a minor impact on the public, private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.