§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will amend the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 in order to allow non-vets to carry out acupuncture and homeopathy on animals. [91992]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 21 July 1999]: The authorisation of practitioners of alternative medicine under the Act is limited to the provision of physiotherapy to animals which are under the care of a veterinary surgeon. Such treatment can be authorised only if it is prescribed by that veterinary surgeon. At present, there are no plans to implement further regulatory arrangements recognising or authorising practitioners of alternative medicine to carry out acts of veterinary surgery.