Updated to 6 March 2026 (Act No. 3 of 2026 and S.I. No. 69 of 2026)
All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.
Veterinary Practice Act 2005
No. 22 of 2005
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Act | 12 July 2005 | Commenced on enactment |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision | Affecting Provision Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted | 15/2013, ss. 1(2), 16(5) | 6 March 2014 | Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 106 of 2014), art. 2 |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland not a reviewable agency in certain functions | 26/1980, s. 4 and sch. part II para. (t) as substituted by 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 16 and sch. part 1 | 7 July 1983 | Ombudsman Act 1980 (Appointed Day) Order 1983, S.I. No. 424 of 1983 |
| S. 2(1) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(a) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 16(1)(d) transfer of functions | S.I. No. 291 of 2023, arts. 1(2), 3(1)(a), 3(2), 4-7 | 1 June 2023 | S.I. No. 291 of 2023, arts. 1(2) |
| S. 16(1)(g) constr. refs. | 29/2014, ss. 1(5), 8, 39 | 31 October 2014 | Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 366 of 2014), art. 2 |
| S. 16(1)(g) am. | 19/2007, ss. 1(2), 40(1) and sch. 3, Part 1 | 1 May 2007 | Consumer Protection Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 178 of 2007), art. 2 |
| S. 25(2) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(b) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 27(3) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(c) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 34(4)(a) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(d)(i) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 34(4)(b) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(d)(ii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 34(5)(c) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(e) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 43 substit. | 25/2012, s. 8(1) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(a) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, | |
| S. 43(7) applied | S.I. No. 144 of 2007, regs. 1(2), 19(1) | 2 April 2007 | S.I. No. 144 of 2007, regs. 1(2) |
| S. 43(9)(b)(iii), (iv) amended | 2/2016, ss. 19(a)(i), (ii), 21(2) | 9 March 2016 | Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 138 of 2016), art. 2 |
| S. 43(9)(b)(v) inserted | 2/2016, ss. 19(a)(iii), 21(2) | 9 March 2016 | Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 138 of 2016), art. 2 |
| S. 43(13) am. | S.I. No. 117 of 2007, reg. 2 | 8 March 2007 | |
| S. 43(15) am. | S.I. No. 362 of 2014, reg. 2 | 23 July 2014 | |
| S. 44(1A) ins. | 25/2012, s. 9(f)(i) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 44(2)(f) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(f)(ii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 54(1) application restricted | S.I. No. 278 of 2017, reg. 3(2) | 27 June 2017 | |
| S.I. No. 278 of 2017, reg. 4(2) | 27 June 2017 | ||
| S. 54(1) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(g)(i) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 54(3) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(g)(ii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 54A ins. | 25/2012, s. 2 | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 54B ins. | 25/2012, s. 2 | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 54C ins. | 25/2012, s. 2 | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 57(1) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(h) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 59(3) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(i) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 59A ins. | 25/2012, s. 3 | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 60(1) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(j)(i) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 60(1)(a) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(j)(ii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 76(1) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(k)(i) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 76(8)(a) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(k)(ii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 76(8)(b) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(k)(ii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 76(9) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(k)(iii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 76(10) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(k)(iv) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 78(8)(b) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(l) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 78(10)(b) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(m) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 79(1) substit. | 25/2012, s. 4(a) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 80(1) substit. | 25/2012, s. 4(b) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 81(2) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(n) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 91(2)(a)(ii) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(o)(i)(I) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 91(2)(a)(iv) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(o)(i)(II) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 91(2)(a)(v) del. | 25/2012, s. 9(o)(i)(III) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 91(2)(b)(i) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(o)(ii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 91(3) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(o)(iii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 93(4) substit. | 25/2012, s. 5 | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 93(5) substit. | 25/2012, s. 5 | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 95(2)(e) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(p) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 95(7) ins. | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(b) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, |
| S. 95(8) ins. | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(b) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, |
| S. 95(9) ins. | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(b) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, |
| S. 95(10) ins. | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(b) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, |
| S. 95(11) ins. | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(b) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, |
| S. 95(12) ins. | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(b) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, |
| S. 95(13) ins. | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(b) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, |
| S. 95(14) ins. | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(b) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, |
| S. 95(15) ins. | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(b) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, |
| S. 95A ins. | 25/2012, s. 8(2) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 95A(4)(b)(ii)(II) amended | 2/2016, ss. 19(b)(i), 21(2) | 9 March 2016 | Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 138 of 2016), art. 2 |
| S. 95A(4)(b)(iii), (iv) amended | 2/2016, ss. 19(b)(ii), (iii), 21(2) | 9 March 2016 | Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 138 of 2016), art. 2 |
| S. 95A(4)(b)(v) inserted | 2/2016, ss. 19(b)(iv), 21(2) | 9 March 2016 | Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 138 of 2016), art. 2 |
| S. 96A ins. | 25/2012, s. 6 | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 96B ins. | 25/2012, s. 6 | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 97(1) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(q)(i) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 97(2) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(q)(i) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 97(4) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(q)(ii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 97(6)(a) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(q)(iii) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| Pt. 9 (ss. 105-123) applied | S.I. No. 144 of 2007, regs. 1(2), 29(f), 31(10)(b) | 2 April 2007 | S.I. No. 144 of 2007, regs. 1(2) |
| S. 105 am. | 25/2012, s. 9(r) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 117A ins. | 25/2012, s. 9(s) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 123(1) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(t) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 126 substit. | 25/2012, s. 7(1)(a) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 126A ins. | 25/2012, s. 7(1)(b) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 127 rep. | 25/2012, s. 7(2) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 131 substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(u) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 134(2) am. | 25/2012, s. 9(v) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| Sch. 2, para. 13(c) substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(w)(i) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| Sch. 2, para. 18 substit. | 25/2012, s. 9(w)(i) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| Sch. 3 substit. | 25/2012, s. 8(3) | 18 July 2012 | Commenced on enactment |
| S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, 3(c) | 1 July 2008 | S.I. No. 745 of 2007, regs. 2, |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| S. 3 | Veterinary Practice Act 2005 (Establishment Day Order 2005 (S.I. No. 598 of 2005) |
| S. 4(2)(a), continued in force | Veterinary Surgeons (Annual Fees) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 131 of 1997) |
| S. 4(2)(b), continued in force | Veterinary Surgeons (Qualifying Degrees) Order 1954 (S.I. No. 85 of 1954) |
| S. 4(2)(c), arts, 2, 3 continued in force in so far as they relate to the Agreement between the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom referred to in art. 3 | Veterinary Surgeons Order 1988 (S.I. No. 66 of 1988) |
| S. 33 | Veterinary Council of Ireland (Fees) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 455 of 2025) |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland (Fees) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 279 of 2022) | |
| S. 52 | Veterinary Council of Ireland (Recognition of Qualifications and Registration) (Veterinary Practitioner) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 282 of 2022) |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland (Recognition of Qualifications and Registration) (Veterinary Nurse) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 281 of 2022) | |
| S. 54A | Veterinary Practice Act 2005 (Treatment by Non-Registered Person) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 278 of 2017) |
| Animal Health and Welfare (Operations and Procedures) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 127 of 2014), reg. 4 | |
| Animal Health and Welfare (Revocation) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 126 of 2014) | |
| Animal Health and Welfare (Operations and Procedures) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 123 of 2014), reg. 4 | |
| S. 59 | Veterinary Practice Act 2005 (Treatment by Non-Registered Person) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 278 of 2017) |
| S. 59A | Veterinary Council of Ireland Indemnity Insurance Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 576 of 2020) |
| S. 65 | Veterinary Council of Ireland (Prescribed Educational Qualifications) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 280 of 2022) |
| S. 66 | Veterinary Council of Ireland Continuing Veterinary Education for Veterinary Nurse Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 578 of 2020) |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland Continuing Veterinary Education for Veterinary Practitioners Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 577 of 2020) | |
| S. 107 | Veterinary Practice Act 2005 (Prescribed places and events) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 611 of 2006) |
| S. 133 | Veterinary Council of Ireland (Fees) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 455 of 2025) |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland (Recognition of Qualifications and Registration) (Veterinary Practitioner) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 282 of 2022) | |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland (Recognition of Qualifications and Registration) (Veterinary Nurse) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 281 of 2022) | |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland (Prescribed Educational Qualifications) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 280 of 2022) | |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland (Fees) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 279 of 2022) | |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland Continuing Veterinary Education for Veterinary Nurse Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 578 of 2020) | |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland Continuing Veterinary Education for Veterinary Practitioners Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 577 of 2020) | |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland Indemnity Insurance Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 576 of 2020) |