Complaints against vets to go through new Veterinary Council, fines of up to S$50,000 for unlawful vet practices

Under a new Veterinary Practice Bill introduced in Parliament, complaints against veterinarians in Singapore will go through a formal disciplinary process backed by legislation, instead of being handled solely through an internal review process.

Speaking during the second reading of the Veterinary Practice Bill in Parliament on Apr. 8, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan said the Bill will introduce a more “robust disciplinary framework”, setting out various offences relating to the practice of veterinary medicine and the penalties for them.

Singapore will also establish a Veterinary Council in the second half of 2026 aimed at regulating the practice of veterinary medicine, uplifting professional standards and strengthening accountability among veterinarians.

The move comes as Singapore’s pet population and veterinary sector have grown significantly over the years, with the number of licensed vets increasing more than fivefold since 2006.

Veterinary Council to hear disciplinary cases

Currently, members of the public may lodge complaints against licensed veterinarians directly with the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), where cases are assessed internally by officers.

Under the new framework, complaints must first be submitted in writing with a statutory declaration, after which the registrar will review the case and recommend whether it should be dismissed or referred to committees under the new Veterinary Council.

These include the Complaints Assessment Committee, Disciplinary Committee and Interim Orders Committee.

"The registrar can recommend dismissing the case if the complainant is frivolous, so vets are not unduly burdened by unmeritorious cases," Tan noted.

Appeals may be submitted to either the Minister or the General Division of the High Court, depending on the level at which the case is referred to.

Any decision made by either party will be final.

Higher fines of up to S$50,000

The bill also raises the maximum fine for offences related to unlawful veterinary practice to S$50,000, compared to the current level of S$10,000 provided under the Animals and Birds Act, while the maximum imprisonment term remains unchanged at 12 months.

This applies to offences such as unlawful veterinary practice by non-qualified individuals, fraudulent registration, and false representation as a duly qualified veterinarian.

Tan added: “This strengthens deterrence against profit-driven motives, and was benchmarked with penalties applicable in human healthcare professions."

Council composition

The council, which is targeted to be established in the second half of 2026, will comprise public- and private-sector members appointed by the Minister for National Development.

Its members will include the Director-General of Animal Health and Welfare, a registrar, the president of the Singapore Veterinary Association, at least four fully registered veterinarians, including at least one with 10 years of experience, and at least two laypersons representing public interest.

New registration framework for veterinarians

The bill also introduces three categories of registration for veterinarians: full, restricted and specialist registration.

Most veterinarians will fall under full registration, while restricted registration will apply to niche manpower needs such as zoo and research work.

Specialist registration will apply to veterinarians who use specialist titles such as ‘ophthalmologist’ or ‘pathologist’ and who hold approved postgraduate qualifications or recognised specialist expertise.

Under the Bill’s transitional arrangements, all veterinarians holding a valid licence under the Animals and Birds Act will transit seamlessly to the new framework.

He emphasised: "... with these new frameworks, the public can be better informed of the vet's professional standing and competency."

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