BVA welcomes RCVS reform plans
“Reforming RCVS governance to ensure we have an effective regulator is an important step towards a thriving veterinary profession” – Elizabeth Mullineaux.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed plans from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to retain some elected representation in its leadership as part of the college’s proposal to move to a fully appointed council.
The plans to reform the college’s governance structure, which were approved by a vote of the RCVS Council on 7 November, will form part of the RCVS’ submission to the government on replacing the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
The vote was preceded by a six-week public consultation on the proposals. In its response to the proposals, the BVA was supportive of the move to an appointed council, but suggested that a separate council with elected members be created for the royal college function of the RCVS.
During the meeting, the council voted to explore retaining elected representation, on a future council or committee that is focused on upstream regulation and the development of the profession.
Responding to approved plans, BVA president Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “Reforming RCVS governance to ensure we have an effective regulator is an important step towards a thriving veterinary profession.
“It’s good to see in the changes outlined today, that the college is listening to the profession and is taking steps towards BVA’s recommendations around greater clarity of both its regulatory and royal college functions.
“It has also responded to concerns regarding a fully appointed council, committing to explore retaining elected representation on a future council or committee focussed on the development of the profession.
“We are also pleased to see RCVS moving closer to our views on greater lay representation on council and its commitment to consider in more depth external scrutiny against similar standards to the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) and publish the outcomes of that assessment in full.”
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Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.
