The Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights has launched a Legal Notice for public consultation on the regulation, registration and licensing of veterinary professions. As part of the public consultation, a meeting was held for those affected by this Legal Notice, where they had the opportunity to discuss the new regulations being proposed.
This new regulation will lead not only to strengthening the quality of services, but also to a clear recognition of the professions involved. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo stated that the government is committed to continuing discussions with all stakeholders in order to continue to regularize professionals dedicated to the animal sector, not only veterinarians, but also those who work closely with them.
This is so that there is a regulatory framework that regulates these professionals who play a crucial role in ensuring animal welfare. “The Legal Notice that we are launching for public consultation is an important step forward because through it we are proposing the introduction of a regulatory framework for para-veterinary professions under the Veterinary Services Act. We are doing this not only to ensure professional standards but also to continue to protect animal welfare,” explained Minister Anton Refalo.
The professions that are being proposed to be regulated in this first phase are: Veterinary Nurses and Technicians; Groomers; Farriers; Fish Experts; and Animal Trainers. Other professions will be regularised later.
Through this Legal Notice, the Veterinary Surgery Council will have the power to regulate, register and license these professions. Thus, the services offered to society will have higher standards with regard to animal welfare. Minister Anton Refalo concluded by encouraging stakeholders to participate in this public consultation in order to jointly build a regulatory framework that is fair and effective.
The public consultation will remain open until 17 July 2025. For more information, one can visit https://www.gov.mt/mt/publicconsultation/Pages/2025/L-0013-2025.aspx.
