SINGAPORE, Oct 24 — The Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) will begin a public consultation on the proposed Veterinary Practice Bill before the end of the year to strengthen professional standards in the veterinary sector.

According to CNA, the legislation will create the Veterinary Council, a new professional body tasked with regulating the registration, certification and conduct of veterinarians in Singapore.

AVS, a cluster under the National Parks Board (NParks), said the move reflects the growing number of veterinarians and clinics alongside the rise in pet ownership.

Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan announced the initiative at the Singapore Vet Show 2025, saying AVS had engaged the sector since 2021 to prepare for the council’s establishment.

“Your feedback has helped us to finetune our proposals and work out transition arrangements to ensure the continuity of veterinary services to the animal industry,” he told CNA.

He said the draft legislation includes a new registration framework that will introduce a register for veterinary specialists to recognise practitioners with additional training and qualifications.

Tan added that the Bill will also propose an improved system for handling complaints, inquiries and investigations, along with an appeals mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability.

It was reported that public feedback on the draft Bill will be gathered through the Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home (REACH) platform for one month before year-end.

AVS said the council, first announced in 2023, will also set educational standards, approve training programmes and enforce ethical codes for veterinarians.

Dr Teo Boon Han, president of the Singapore Veterinary Association (SVA), told CNA that the creation of the council has been “a long time coming”.

He said Singapore remains one of the few developed countries without a veterinary council, but the new framework signals that the profession is gaining greater recognition among policymakers and society.