Veterinary Ireland Calls on VCI to reduce proposed Fee Increases on Veterinary Practitioners

• Calls on Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to request VCI to review the level of increases in fees
• Calls on the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to request VCI to review the level of increases in fees in the interests of consumers

Veterinary Ireland, the representative body for vets in Ireland, has called on the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI), the independent statutory body responsible for the registration and regulation of veterinary practitioners, to review the level of proposed increases in VCI regulatory fees on veterinary practitioners.

As well as applying an 8.9% increase on annual registration fees* for veterinary practitioners and veterinary nurses, the VCI has imposed increases in fees for the granting of Certificates of Suitability (COS’s) for practice premises under its Premises Accreditation Scheme (PAS)** ranging from 103% to 191% over two four-year cycles.

This level of increase - 103% to 191% - is wholly unacceptable to veterinary practitioners and completely at variance with increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over this period.

The increases in fees being applied by the VCI for the granting of Certificates of Suitability (COS’s) under its Premises Accreditation Scheme over two four-year cycles would see the fees per COS increase from €790 for a four year license for all classes of premises to €1,600 for a Registered Veterinary Office (RVO), €1,600 for a Registered Mobile Veterinary Unit (RMVU), €1,700 for a Registered Veterinary Clinic (RVC), €2,000 for a Registered Veterinary Facility (RVF), and €2,300 for a Registered Veterinary Hospital (RVH).

According to Veterinary Ireland President, Eoin Glynn, MVB, “this level of increase in regulatory costs by the VCI is wholly unreasonable, completely at variance with CPI increases over the period and any such increases in costs are ultimately borne by the consumer through increased charges for veterinary services”.

Veterinary Ireland has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, under who’s remit the VCI falls, to request that the VCI review the level of increases in fees.

Veterinary Ireland has also called on the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to request the VCI to review its proposed increases in fees in the interests of consumers.

Notes for Editors:

* Vets and vet nurses are legally required to pay annual Registration fees to the VCI to be able to practise in Ireland.

** Vets are also legally required every four years to Register the veterinary premises from which they operate. The VCI’s Premises Accreditation Scheme (PAS) is mandatory for all veterinary practices under the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, as amended. Through the PAS, the VCI regulates and maintains standards of veterinary premises in Ireland in the public interest.