Veterinary Ireland, the body representing veterinary practitioners in Ireland, has called for a proposed increase in regulatory fees to be reduced.

The representative body has called on Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon to request the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI), the statutory body for regulating the profession, to review the proposed increase in fees on vets.

VCI is increasing annual registration fees for vets and veterinary nurses by 8.9%, and has also increased fees for issuing certificates of suitability for veterinary premises.

These increases will range from 103% to 191% of the curent fees over two-four year cycles.

Veterinary Ireland said that this level of increase is "wholly unacceptable" to veterinary practitioners.

According to Veterinary Ireland, the increases in fees being applied by VCI for granting certificates of suitability over two four-cycles would see the fees per certificate increase from €790 - for a four-year licence for all classes of premises - to €1,600 for a registered veterinary office (RVO).

The group also said that the cost could hit €1,600 for a registered mobile veterinary unit (RMVU); €1,700 for a registered veterinary clinic (RVC); €2,000 for a registered veterinary facility (RVF); and €2,300 for a registered veterinary hospital (RVH).

Veterinary Ireland president Eoin Glynn said: "This level of increase in regulatory costs by the VCI is wholly unreasonable...and any such increases in costs are ultimately borne by the consumer through increased charges for veterinary services."

Veterinary Ireland has called on Minister Heydon, under whose remit VCI falls, to request the latter to review the level of the increase in fees.

Veterinary Ireland has also called on the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to request VCI to review its proposed increases in fees "in the interests of consumers".

Vets and bluetongue

Earlier this month, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said some of the procedures around prescribing bluetongue virus (BTV) vaccines would by simplified for vets.

A department information note on bluetongue, issued earlier this month, said that there is now no requirement to notify the department when animals are vaccinated with a bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine.

Previously, the department had to be notified within 30 days of vaccination.

The department briefing note said it is still advisable that the livestock owner or keeper supplied with the BTV-3 vaccines continues to keep written or digital records of all vaccines administered.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said at the time that the changes made by the department are "practical" for farmers and vets, and will reduce costs and simplify prescribing of the product.