In accordance with Section 106 of the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, as amended (“the Act”), a registered person shall not practise veterinary medicine otherwise than at—

(a) a premises to which a certificate of suitability applies,

(b) a State premises,

(c) a premises, including a farm, that is under the control of the person who owns the animal or who for the time being has custody of the animal that is under the care of a registered practitioner, which registered practitioner usually practises veterinary medicine at a premises to which a certificate of suitability applies,

(d) an exempted place,
(e) a place where an emergency veterinary procedure is performed.

To gain premises accreditation and a Certificate of Suitability (“COS”) under the Council’s PAS, a COS application must first be made, and a premises inspection is then carried out to ensure that the premises is compliant with all the relevant PAS Standards and Regulations. The PAS Standards which must be met will depend on which premises classification the application is made under. A copy of the COS application and a report of the premises inspection are first considered by the Practice Premises Committee (“PPC”), who will then make its recommendations to the Council on whether to grant the COS, grant the COS with conditions or to refuse to grant. All final decisions on whether a COS is granted rests with the Council.

More information relating to the COS Application process for new premises is included in the “Guidelines for Making a COS application” document available in the PAS section on the Council’s website.

Upon the revocation of a COS for a premises, where the practice of veterinary medicine at/from the premises will cease, a COS Holder may apply to the Council for a partial refund of the COS fee not utilised up to the date of revocation. The Council will consider any application for a refund upon the revocation of a COS on a case-by- case basis, and the determination of any refund is a matter for the Council.

Any COS Holder in the revocation of a COS, where a new COS is granted to another registered person enabling the continuation of the practice of veterinary medicine at/from the premises, is not entitled to apply to the Council for a partial refund of the COS fee

In accordance with PAS Regulation 15, each Registrant is required to provide a PAS Declaration to the Council. The PAS Declaration requests confirmation on whether a Registrant is practising veterinary medicine or nursing at/from a registered veterinary premises, a State premises or an exempted place, or if a Registrant is retired/non-practising.