RCVS Accredited Practices: don’t forget to register your premises

Veterinary practice premises already accredited under the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) will not be subject to routine medicines inspections from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) – but they must still be registered on the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises.

That’s the message from the RCVS, as a number of PSS-accredited practices have not yet recognised the requirement for separate registration of their premises for the purposes of handling medicines.

Practice details will not be automatically transferred and it is necessary to confirm the details of the individual premises to be registered: this is the responsibility of the veterinary surgeons who work in those premises.

The College has written to all members of the Scheme to point out the requirement and the deadline for registration is 1 April 2009. After this date it will be illegal for veterinary surgeons to supply medicines from practice premises that are not registered for this purpose, regardless of whether they are in the PSS.

For those premises already accredited under the PSS, their annual PSS fees include the medicines registration fee of £40 (if they are registered).

Premises that have joined the Scheme but have not yet been accredited are not subject to annual PSS fees and are therefore required to pay the £40 medicines registration fee.

Visit the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises page to download the application forms for registration.

If you wish to know whether your particular premises are yet to be registered, first please check within the practice team, and if you are still unsure, please email [email protected], stating the full address of the premises, including the postcode. Please don’t telephone to make this type of enquiry.

All other enquiries from PSS members should be directed to Ashley Doorly on 020 7202 0767, and for other premises, please contact Judith Hylton on 020 7202 0707.

Those attending the British Small Animal Veterinary Congress on Saturday 4 April are welcome to attend the joint RCVS/VMD Masterclass, ‘An Inspector Calls, are you ready?’ which will consider the requirements of both the Veterinary Medicines Regulations and the medicines section of the Practice Standards Scheme.

The event, which starts at 10am, is free to BSAVA pass-holders. Contact Fiona Harcourt on 020 7202 0773 or [email protected] to register your place.