I have a question about the storage/supply of veterinary medicines. Who should I contact?

Yes, if you move your practice to new premises, you need to submit a registration application for the new premises and pay the £35 fee. It is not possible to transfer registration between premises. The new premises must be registered before any storage or supply of veterinary medicines takes place.

If you are in the Practice Standards Scheme, your accreditation will not be transferred to the new premises. Your new premises will need to make an application to join the Scheme.

You will also need to close the premises you are moving from, please complete the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises Removal Form (see the 'Related documents' box below).

If you have a Direct Debit set up to pay your annual veterinary practice premises fee please ensure you cancel this with your bank and set up a new one using your new registration number. 

If nothing except the owner, or the practice name, is changing and the staff and the operational running of the practice is remaining the same then you do not need to re-register. You only need to advise us of the new ownership/practice details. The registration for the premises will continue and you will be sent a reminder for the next year’s fee to that address.

You will require a new registration if the staff, management and/or the operational running of the business is changing. 

Yes. There is an annual fee for the registration of veterinary practice premises. £35 for each veterinary practice premises; VAT is not payable.

The registration of veterinary practice premises is due on 1 April each year. An invoice is issued for payment (up to four weeks before the due date) to those practice premises which are on the Register. If a premises is part of a practice group, the invoice will be sent to the principal premises or Head Office.

Any fees not received by 1 April, may result in the premises being removed from the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises and the supply of any medicines will need to cease immediately.

The annual fee for premises accredited under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) includes the annual registration fee for veterinary practice premises. Premises in the Practice Standards Scheme have inspections undertaken by RCVS Assessors, not by the VMD.

You are accountable for your practice (stock) medicines stored at other premises, including, for example, stores at the homes of employees and at charity/business clients; as you are for medicines stored at your practice’s veterinary practice premises.

The record requirement is outlined in Chapter 4 of the supporting guidance to the Code of Professional Conduct: Veterinary medicines (paragraphs 4.27 - 4.29). It comprises a description of both the legal requirements for practice premises registration and the professional obligation for record-keeping.