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The Government will gazette on March 16 the Veterinary Surgeons Registration Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order 2012 (the Order) to amend parts of Schedule 2 of the Veterinary Surgeons Registration Ordinance (Cap 529) (VSRO), to tie in with the development of veterinary practices and to better protect animal welfare.
A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau today (March 14) pointed out that the existing system of regulatory control of veterinary practices needs to be kept up to date with modern developments in view of the rapid advancement of veterinary knowledge, evolving veterinary practices, and the growing public awareness of animal welfare issues.
The spokesman said, "In this regard, the Government has reviewed the existing regulatory regime in Hong Kong as well as the relevant legislative provisions, and launched a two-month public consultation on proposals to amend Schedule 2 of the VSRO in September last year. The respondents were generally in support of the relevant proposals. Taking into account the views and comments received, we have finalised the Order."
The Order amends Schedule 2 of the VSRO with a view to:
(1) permitting a person to perform certain veterinary acts under the direction or supervision of a registered veterinary surgeon;
(2) limiting the veterinary acts that an owner of an animal may perform to the animal;
(3) permitting a licensed livestock farmer or an owner of a fish to perform certain husbandry procedures for the prevention of injury or disease and better management and care of such animals; and
(4) permitting certain public officers and authorised persons to perform certain veterinary acts to assist the Government in fulfilling its public responsibilities relating to public health, public safety, animal welfare, disease monitoring and control.
The Order will be tabled in the Legislative Council on March 21. Subject to smooth passage through the negative vetting procedures of the Legislative Council, the Order will commence on May 14.
Ends/Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:00
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