The profession of veterinary surgeon is reserved for:

• French nationality
• Nationals of another Member State of the European Union (EU)
• Nationals of another State Party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA)
• Of Swiss nationality
• Refugees or stateless persons recognized by the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra)

The conditions of training and qualification depend on the State in which the diploma was obtained:

Knowledge of the French language is necessary for any veterinarian wishing to practice in France.

It is generally checked during the interview with the elected member of the Order of Veterinarians, at the time of entry in the table of the Order of Veterinarians.

No documents are systematically requested. In case of obvious difficulties with the French language, it may be requested to provide a certificate of at least B2 level.

Any veterinarian wishing to practice his profession in France must be registered with the Order of Veterinarians before starting work.

The conditions for registration in the Order differ depending on whether the veterinarian wishes to practice permanently or temporarily.

(infographic to come)

The veterinarian may exercise:

• Either individually (liberal)
• Either as an employee
• Either as a Liberal collaborator
• Either in common, in businesses of common practice of the veterinary profession

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Individual exercise (liberal)

The veterinarian may carry out his activity on his own in the liberal form. He has to do that individual business create a. The veterinarian is then an individual operator.

Please note

The veterinarian cannot benefit from the scheme micro-social.

Labor or liberal collaboration

The veterinarian may practice as:

• Liberal worker: a self-employed veterinarian who, under a contract of liberal collaboration, practices with another veterinarian who makes available to him the premises and equipment necessary for the exercise of the profession. The Order make available more information on liberal collaboration, as well as a guide to drafting liberal collaborative contracts.
• Employee. The Order make available more information on the payroll.

A comparison of these modes of exercise is available on the website of the Order of Veterinarians:

Veterinarian: Comparison of employee and liberal worker status

National Order of Veterinarians

Pour en savoir plus

Please note

Employed veterinarians working outside the tasks assigned to them by their contract of employment are considered to be working on a liberal basis.

Any agreement or contract between veterinarians and between them or between a veterinarian and a business for the exercise of their profession shall be the subject of a written undertaking, dated and signed by the parties.

The agreements or contracts shall include a clause guaranteeing that veterinarians comply with the code of ethics, as well as their independence, in all acts falling within their profession.

The agreements or contracts shall be communicated without delay to the regional council of the Order, which shall verify their conformity. The agreement or contract shall be deemed to be in conformity if, within two months of its receipt, the Regional Council of the Order has not made known any observations.

Who shall I contact

• Regional councils of the College of Veterinarians

Please note

One non-compete clause may exist in the employment contract of the employed veterinarian.

Joint exercise (in business of joint exercise of the veterinary profession)

Business Shapes

Persons legally practicing the profession of veterinary surgeon may to practice jointly animal medicine and surgery in the context of:

• From Professional Civil businesses (PCS) of veterinary surgeons: allows natural persons to exercise jointly a regulated liberal profession
• From businesses of Liberal Practice (SEL) of veterinarians: allows members of the liberal professions to carry out their activities in the form of capital businesses
• From all businesses of national law or businesses formed in accordance with the law of a Member State of theEU (EU) or of another State party to the Agreement on theEuropean Economic Area (EEA) and having their registered office, central administration or principal place of business therein, where they do not confer on their members the status of trader.

This exercise in common may be undertaken only after the business has been entered in the Table of the Order.

These businesses must meet the following cumulative conditions:

• More than half of the share capital and voting rights must be held, directly or through the businesses registered with the Association, by persons legally practicing the profession of veterinarian within the business
• The business does not confer the status of merchant
• The holding, directly or indirectly, of shares in the company's capital shall be prohibited:
  
  • Natural or legal persons who, not exercising the profession of veterinary surgeon, supply services, products or materials used in connection with the veterinary professional practice
  • natural or legal persons carrying on, in a professional capacity or in accordance with their objects, an activity of rearing, producing or disposing of animals or animal products free of charge or for consideration.
• The managers, the chairman of the simplified share business (SAS), the chairman of the management board or the members of the Executive Board must be persons legally practicing the profession of veterinary surgeon. These persons must therefore be individually entered in the Order's register.
• The identity of the members is known and the admission of any new member is subject to prior approval by collective decision taken by a majority of the members. In the case of businesses governed by foreigners law, such admission shall take place under the conditions laid down in their statutes or in the law applicable to them.

The businesses must communicate annually to the regional council of the Order on which they depend the list of their associates and the distribution of voting rights and capital, as well as any modification of these elements.

Who shall I contact

• Regional councils of the College of Veterinarians

The National Council of the Order compares the different modes of exercise:

Veterinarians: Choosing how to exercise

National Order of Veterinarians

Pour en savoir plus

Warning  

When a business no longer complies with these conditions, the regional council of the Order gives notice to comply with them within a period that it determines of a maximum of 6 months. In the absence of regularization within the time limit set, the Regional Council may, after having informed the business of the measure envisaged and invited it to submit its observations, decide whether delisting the business of the table of the College of Veterinarians.

Agreement or contract

Any agreement or contract between a veterinarian and a business for the purpose of exercising the profession of veterinarian shall be the subject of a written undertaking, dated and signed by the parties.

The agreements or contracts shall include a clause guaranteeing that veterinarians comply with the code of ethics, as well as their independence, in all acts falling within their profession.

The agreements or contracts shall be communicated without delay to the regional council of the Order, which shall verify their conformity. The agreement or contract shall be deemed to be in conformity if, within two months of its receipt, the Regional Council of the Order has not made known any observations.

Who shall I contact

• Regional councils of the College of Veterinarians

Registration on the Order's board

One application form the table of the College of Veterinarians must be completed. The file varies depending on the type of business. The file templates to be filled out are available on the website of the National Order of Veterinarians.

The request for the inclusion of a business of veterinarians shall be made collectively by the partners, by registered letter with notice of receipt. If they are in office, they provide their certificate of registration in the Order's register.

The application form is accompanied by the following documents :

• A copy of the articles of association signed by all members of the business rules and regulations or by a representative empowered to state the full marital status of each member, together with proof of their administrative place of business and, if so established, of the
• The amount of the share capital, the number, the nominal amount and the distribution of the shares in the company or shares representing that capital, and the criteria for the distribution of profits
• A document providing proof of the total or partial discharge, as the case may be, of the contributions contributing to the formation of share capital
• A certificate from the members stating the address of the professional place or places of business where the veterinary activity will be carried out on behalf of the business
• Payment of registration fees to the Order, if any. This payment shall remain vested in the Order, regardless of the outcome of the request.

All documents submitted in support of the application for registration must be accompanied, if not in French, by a translation certified by a translator who is sworn or authorized to act before the judicial or administrative authorities of another Member State of the European Union, of a State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation.

Please note

Once registered in the Order's table, the legal persons must provide the unique identification number within one month.

Any modification of the statutes or of these elements shall be notified without delay to the Regional Council of the Order. It shall be accompanied by a copy of the company documents stating that it is certified in accordance with the version lodged at the Registry of the Commercial Court.

The application for registration shall be registered when all the documents have been received by the Regional Council. A receipt is sent by registered letter with a request for notice of receipt to the applicant by the regional council of the Order. The two-month period to decide on the application begins on the date of registration of the application by the Regional Council of the Order.

Who shall I contact

• National Council of the Veterinary College

The silence of the Regional Council of the College of Veterinarians on an application for inclusion in the College's roster made by a natural person or a business shall be deemed to constitute a decision to reject the application.

The decision to refuse registration can be appealed to the National Council of the Order within 2 months. Such an appeal shall not suspend the refusal decision.

In the event of acceptance of the registration dossier, a certificate of registration the table of the College of Veterinarians will then be issued by the Regional Council of the College of Veterinarians.

Types of homes

Every veterinarian entered in the order shall declare a administrative domicile (DPA) which is the address chosen for registration with the Regional Council of the Order and one or more professional practice homes (POC) which are the places where the veterinarian practices animal medicine and surgery. Eventually, the EPR declared and chosen by the veterinarian as his principal place of practice will determine the jurisdiction of the regional council to which he will be attached.

Administrative professional residence (DPA)

The administrative domicile (DPA) of a veterinarian is the place chosen for the entry in the Order's table.

People physical or moral practicing the profession must have a single DPA on French territory.

The DPA is, unless otherwise specified by the veterinarian, the correspondence address for the regional council of the Order.

Professional practice home (PDO)

The professional practice home (DPE) is the place of establishment of professional premises, accessible at any time by the veterinarian(s) practicing there, where the profession of veterinarian is practiced. Every veterinarian registered with the Order and practicing has at least one DPE. Every EPD must be declared to the Order's Regional Council, prior to opening. A veterinarian or a group of veterinarians for the purpose of joint professional practice may have more than one ECD.

The organization and layout of the EPD's premises must to guarantee the independence of the veterinarian and allow professional secrecy to be observed. As the case may be, neither the lease nor the co-ownership regulation contains any clause affecting the independence of the veterinarian. The name of the DPE's Internet address shall not:

• Mislead customers
• Be unfair to fellow workers.

A veterinarian is prohibited from having a fellow veterinarian permanently manage an EPD or from having a client service provided by a veterinarian, except in the case of a compelled absence, illness or death. Customer rentals are prohibited.

The establishment located at the professional practice home (POC), where the animals are brought for treatment, is called veterinary care establishment.

Veterinary care facilities have the following names:

• ‘Veterinary office’
• ‘Veterinary clinic’
• "Center for Veterinary Specialists"
• ‘Veterinary hospital’.

These designations may be used only if the establishment satisfies the conditions applicable to premises, equipment and staff depending on the species or species of animals. These criteria are specified in a order available on Légifrance.

The regional council of the Order may authorize the practice of medicine and surgery in premises other than those mentioned in this article where specific means are gathered.

The establishment managed by an animal welfare association is a veterinary care establishment which must meet the minimum requirements for the veterinary practice.

The names of veterinary care establishments must not mislead customers or be unfair to other veterinary care establishments.

Registration must be done online on the company Formalities Window website:

Company Formalities Window

This declaration is used to inform all the bodies concerned by the launch of your activity (Insee, social organizations, Urssaf, public finance center, etc.).

Insee shall assign a Siret number. This is a unique national identification number that identifies the establishment. It is composed of Siren (first 9 digits) which identifies the company and the Nic (last 5 digits) which is modified in particular when the address of the establishment is changed.

When registering the company, Insee also attributes to the veterinarian its EPA code. For the activity of veterinary doctor, the EPA code is 7500Z.

Once entered in the order table, the legal persons must provide the unique identification number within one month to the Regional Council of the Order.

All veterinarians have the obligation to take out professional indemnity insurance (CPR) before starting to practice.

This applies to all veterinarians, whether they practice on a temporary or permanent basis, and regardless of their practice structure.

The SPC guarantees the damage caused to third parties in the course of the activity: choice of mistreatment, poor follow-up of the animal taken in charge, etc. It provides support in the search for an amicable solution, cover legal and procedural costs, as well as compensation for damage.

Businesses must also comply with this obligation.

From the date of commencement of activity, the veterinarian shall pay social contributions to the Urssaf. They are calculated on the basis of realized income.

These contributions are must be paid online in one of the following ways:

• Either every month. The monthly payment is made on the 5th of each month (or the 20th on option) by direct debit.
• Either every quarter. The quarterly payment is made by direct debit, by electronic payment or by credit card. Contributions are payable for February 5, May 5, August 5, and November 5.

For more information on the social contributions of the veterinarian: see the factsheet Social protection for the liberal professional.

Social contributions are calculated on the basis of self-employment income.

The veterinarian must adhere to the Autonomous Veterinary Pension and Provident Fund (CARPV). This membership is obligatory for all self-employed veterinarians, whether working alone, in association or under the status of a liberal employee, and for SEL managers (Business of liberal practice).

The veterinarian shall contribute to the following schemes:

• Liberal basic plan —Works in insurance points and quarters
• Supplementary scheme : managed by class, by points and by allocation. It is only compulsory for veterinarians engaged solely, principally or incidentally in self-employed veterinary activities
• Disability-death plan, whose minimum class is mandatory.

Contributions to CARPV

CARPV

Pour en savoir plus

Data subjects

Veterinarians must comply with the veterinary code of ethics. This also applies to:

• Businesses of veterinarians
• Pupils of French veterinary schools
• Veterinary teachers from the national veterinary schools working in clinics belonging to the veterinary schools
• Veterinarian teachers in an approved establishment (private under contract with the State).

FYI  

The College of Veterinarians provides a code of ethics with comments:

The Code of Veterinary Ethics commented on

National Order of Veterinarians

Pour en savoir plus

Sanctions

The regional and national disciplinary chambers may apply disciplinary sanctions where a veterinarian commits breaches, in particular of the rules of professional conduct. The applicable disciplinary sanctions are:

• The warning
• The reprimand
• Temporary suspension of the right to practice the profession for a maximum period of 10 years in all or part of the national territory, with or without partial or total suspension. This penalty results in the ineligibility of the person concerned to a council of the Order for the entire duration of the suspension.
• The (final) deletion from the Order's table

Any administrative decision of a regional council of the Order may be the subject of a administrative appeal in front of the Board of Governors. Only the decision of the Higher Council of the Order on this appeal may be appealed to the Council of State on the grounds of excess of power.

General duties of the veterinarian

I. The practice of veterinary practice is personal. Each veterinarian is responsible for his or her decisions and actions.

II. The veterinarian may not alienate his professional independence in any form.

III. The veterinarian must fulfill all the duties imposed on him by the laws and regulations. He shall perform the acts related to his art in accordance with the rules of good professional practice. It shall ensure that the responsibilities of the staff under its authority are precisely defined, that they are trained in the rules of good practice and that they are respected.

IV. The veterinarian shall comply with the contractual commitments he makes in the exercise of his profession.

V. The veterinarian must respect professional secrecy under the conditions laid down by law.

VI. The veterinarian shall in no case practice his profession in conditions which could jeopardize the quality of his documents.

VII. The veterinarian shall take into account the consequences of his professional activity on public health, in particular as regards antibiotic resistance.

VIII. The veterinarian respects the animals.

IX. The veterinarian shall take into account the environmental consequences of his professional activity.

X. The veterinarian shall refrain, even outside the exercise of his profession, from any act likely to impair the dignity of the profession.

XI. All comedy between veterinarians, between veterinarians and pharmacists or any other person is prohibited.

XII. The veterinarian shall acquire the scientific information necessary for his professional exercise, take it into account in the performance of his task, and maintain and improve his knowledge.

XIII. The veterinarian shall carry out scrupulously, as soon as possible and in accordance with the instructions received, the public service tasks for which he is responsible by the administrative authority. When he is required by the administration to carry out his mission with the clients of a colleague, he refuses to take any action outside the administration.

Any veterinarian shall be prohibited from carrying out preventive or treatment measures where such measures have been expressly requested by the administration of another veterinarian and he is aware of them.

The veterinarian shall afford the members of the inspection bodies every facility for the performance of their duties.

XIV. The veterinarian may carry out another professional activity compatible with the rules on the one hand and with professional independence and dignity on the other. This activity must not put its interests in conflict with its ethical duties, in particular by providing it with means of unfair competition vis-à-vis its colleagues.

XV. The veterinarian is prohibited from covering by his title any person not entitled to a professional veterinary practice, and in particular from allowing anyone working under his authority or responsibility to carry out his activity outside the conditions laid down by law.

XVI. A veterinarian who assumes or has assumed professional responsibility or who fulfills or has fulfilled an administrative or political function is prohibited from availing himself of it directly or indirectly for personal purposes for the exercise of his profession.

XVII. It is prohibited for the veterinarian to supply medicinal products to humans, even on the prescription of a doctor.

XVIII. The veterinarian may not practice his profession as a trader or favor his own interests over those of his clients or the animals he treats.

XIX. The veterinarian shall inform the regional council of the College of Veterinarians of any change in his professional situation, in the light of the information which he must declare, and shall provide it with all the information which he requests for the purpose of carrying out his duties.

Distinctions, qualifications and qualifications

In the course of his professional activity, the veterinarian may state honors recognized by the French Republic and titles and diplomas listed by the National Council of the Order of Veterinarians. It is forbidden to usurp titles or to wear false titles.

Veterinarians who are granted the title of specialist veterinarian and who have not been withdrawn may, in the exercise of their profession, rely solely on the title of specialist veterinarian.

Communication and information

Any communication addressed to third parties or fellow veterinarians is free, provided that it complies with the provisions governing the exercise of the profession.

The communication of the veterinarian must not undermine public respect or the dignity of the profession.

Any communication shall preserve the professional secrecy to which veterinarians are obliged. It must be fair, honest and scientifically substantiated. It must not mislead the public, abuse their trust or exploit their gullibility, lack of experience or knowledge.

Where the veterinarian refers to professional or technical skills, he must be able to justify them. He may not use comparative methods or use the testimony of third parties.

Price information should be clear, honest and dated. It must be linked to a specific offer of services and include all the services included in the offer. Any offer of services which might entail an additional cost for the customer must give rise to precise information.

Veterinarians shall ensure that the information which they must provide on their performance is made available or communicated in a clear, unambiguous manner and in good time before it is carried out.

The veterinarian is forbidden to use the logo of the Order of Veterinarians, unless authorized in writing by the President of the Board of Governors of the Order.

The veterinarian shall keep the following information at the disposal of persons using his services:

• Information on his identification, the businesses of practice and the veterinary professional networks to which he belongs, and their contact details
• Contact details of the Regional Council of the Order to which it reports
• Elements allowing the applicant to access the code of conduct
• Information on the assumption of professional civil liability and contact details of the insurer

Publications

In publications, the veterinarian may use documents or results of examinations and observations supplied to him by other authors only if they mention the contribution made by these other authors to their establishment or if they indicate the appropriate bibliographical reference.

All communications must be signed by the author.

A veterinarian who submits a communication containing the particulars in favor of a company or trade mark, whatever the method used, must state, if any, the links which attach him to that company or trade mark.

Pseudonym

It is forbidden for the veterinarian to use a pseudonym for the practice of animal medicine and surgery. For other activities carried out by the veterinarian in connection with the veterinary profession, the use of a pseudonym shall be the subject of a prior declaration to the regional council of the Order.

Certificates and other documents

The veterinarian shall take the utmost care in drawing up the certificates or other documents requested of him and shall state only facts the accuracy of which he himself has verified.

Any certificate or similar document shall be authenticated by the signature and the veterinarian's personal stamp which issues it or by means of its secure electronic signature. The stamp shall bear the following particulars:

• Surname and forename of veterinarian
• Address of professional place of business
• National Order Registration Number

Certificates and other documents must comply with the laws and regulations in force.

The making available to a third party of certificates or other signed documents without editorial content constitutes serious professional misconduct.

The veterinarian must report to the President of the Regional Council of the Order or to the competent authority, when he is entrusted with a public service mission, on the difficulties encountered in drawing up his professional certification documents.

Relations with other veterinarians, other healthcare professionals and third parties

Confraternity

Veterinarians must maintain a relationship of brotherhood with each other and with other health professionals.

When a veterinarian intervenes after a fellow veterinarian, he must refrain from any denigration.

Veterinarians owe each other mutual assistance, advice and service.

If a professional disagreement arises between colleagues, they must first seek conciliation. If the conciliation fails, they ask for an ordinal mediation from the president of the regional council of the Order.

Replacement of veterinarian

The veterinarian who replaces a fellow veterinarian provides customer service to that fellow veterinarian.

At the end of the replacement, all the information necessary for continuity of care shall be forwarded to the veterinarian who has been replaced.

Veterinary diagnosis, prescription and dispensing of medicinal products

Rules for the establishment of veterinary diagnosis

The veterinary diagnosis is intended to determine the health status of an animal or group of animals or to assess a health risk.

The veterinarian shall draw up a veterinary diagnosis following the consultation, which shall include the clinical examination of the animal or animals. However, it may also make a diagnosis when it carries out health surveillance and regularly provides care to the animals or when it monitors the implementation of a health program for breeding.

In all cases, the veterinarian shall be prohibited from making a veterinary diagnosis without first collecting the necessary commemorative items and without having carried out the necessary examinations.

Principles for the prescription of medicinal products

Any requirement of medicines is carried out after a veterinary diagnosis has been made.

Within the limits laid down by law, the veterinarian shall be free of his prescriptions. It is forbidden to alienate this freedom from anyone.

Its prescription is appropriate to the case in question. It is guided by respect for public health and consideration of animal health and protection. It shall be established taking into account the consequences, in particular economic consequences, for the owner of the animal or animals.

Pharmacy

The veterinarian must not, by any means or process, incite his clients to misuse medicinal products.

It must be actively involved in veterinary pharmacovigilance.

It ensures prudent and responsible use of antimicrobial and antiparasitic agents to limit the risk of developing resistance.

Ancillary activities

The supply of feedingstuffs intended for particular nutritional purposes and, in general, of products, materials and services in connection with the practice of animal medicine and surgery, shall be authorized on condition that it constitutes an ancillary activity the practice of animal medicine and surgery.

Veterinary surgeons practicing animal medicine and surgery shall be prohibited from brokering in the trade of animals and from insurance intermediation.

Professional secrecy

Every veterinarian, including a veterinary assistant, shall respect professional secrecy.

The professional secrecy of the veterinarian covers everything that has come to the knowledge of the veterinarian in the exercise of his profession, that is to say, what has been entrusted to him but also what he has seen, heard or understood.

Duties to customers

Clientele

The veterinarian's clientele consists of all the persons who entrust him with the usual task of carrying out acts relating to that exercise. It has no territorial character or exclusivity.

Embezzlement or attempted misappropriation of customers is prohibited. The veterinarian must refrain from any act of unfair competition towards his colleagues.

The veterinarian is prohibited from relying on the performance of interventions or missions on behalf of the State in order to try to expand his clientele or gain personal advantage from it.

The veterinarian who assists or replaces a fellow veterinarian provides customer service to that fellow veterinarian.

Fundamental duties

I. The veterinarian must respect the right of any owner or keeper of animals to freely choose his veterinarian.

II. It shall formulate its advice and recommendations, taking into account their consequences, with all the necessary clarity and give all the useful explanations on the diagnosis, on the prophylaxis or the therapy instituted and on the prescription established, in order to obtain the informed consent of its clients.

III. It shall maintain an attitude of dignity and care towards the owners or keepers of the animals to which it gives care, taking into account in particular the emotional relations which may exist between the owner and the animal.

IV. It shall ensure continuity of care for the animals entrusted to it. Continuity of care can also be ensured through an agreement established between Liberal veterinarians and deposited with the regional council of the Order.

The veterinarian shall inform the public of the possibilities open to him to have this medical follow-up carried out by a colleague.

V. The veterinarian shall, within the limits of his possibilities, endeavor to alleviate the suffering of the animal and obtain the agreement of the applicant for appropriate care when he is in the presence or is informed of a sick or injured animal, which is at risk, of a species for which he possesses:

• Competence
• The technicality
• The adapted equipment
• Professional indemnity insurance covering the market value of the animal

In the absence of such an agreement or where the applicant is unable to respond to such a request, he shall inform the applicant of the alternative possibilities of taking charge of the animal by another veterinarian or of taking a decision in the interests of the animal, in particular to avoid unjustified suffering.

In other cases, the veterinarian may refuse to provide care for any other legitimate reason.

VI. His professional civil liability must be covered by an insurance contract appropriate to the activity pursued.

Remuneration

The remuneration the veterinarian may not be subject to criteria which would have the effect of undermining his independence or the quality of his veterinary practice.

The fees of the veterinarian shall be determined in a sensitive and measured manner taking into account the nature of the care given and the particular circumstances. Their presentation must be explicit as to the identity of the person or persons involved and the nature of the services provided by each. The recipient of the service must know in advance the medical or surgical procedure and the main characteristics of the service, if they are not already apparent from the context.

Any practice of reducing the amount of remuneration for the purpose of competition is prohibited to the veterinarian if it compromises the quality of care. It shall provide the price of the service, where the price is determined in advance or, failing that, a method of calculating that price or a quote for a given type of service.

The veterinarian must respond to any request for information about his fees or the cost of treatment.

The billing of an act according to the result is prohibited.

Other provisions

It shall be prohibited to perform any act of animal medicine or surgery, whether free of charge or against payment, from which a natural or legal person not legally entitled to exercise the veterinary profession and not covered by the care contract may derive moral or material benefit.

This shall not apply to the practice of animal medicine or surgery by an employed veterinarian:

• An animal welfare association recognized as being of public interest
• Or a foundation for the protection of animals
• Or a recognized producer group
• Or of an approved professional agricultural association
• Or an approved health protection organization
• Be a teacher in a registered private non-profit institution under contract with the State, as part of his teaching and research mission in that institution

Communication and information

Yearbooks and periodicals

Where the contact details of a veterinarian or a business of practice are listed in a directory or in a periodical publication, whatever the format, they shall include the following information:

• Name and forename of the veterinarian or the name of the veterinary care establishment or the words "home veterinarian"
• For veterinarians not practicing at home, the address of the veterinary care establishment
• Telephone Contact Information

Websites

Any website intended to present the professional activity of a veterinarian must be declared to the regional council of the Order of the place of establishment of the administrative professional home.

The website cannot replace the relationship between the practitioner and his client. It preserves the confidentiality of personal information submitted by site visitors.

The webmaster is identified, and an email address or contact form is easily accessible on the site.

Where the site contains information of a medical nature, this shall be dated and the source of the published information cited. In this case, the identity of the drafter(s) shall be specified.

Any claims about the benefits or disadvantages of treatment are justified.

Communication media

The veterinary care establishment shall be reported by one or more plates. This signage shall include the following elements:

• Surname and forenames of the veterinarian
• Days and hours of consultation
• Telephone Contact Information
• How continuity and permanence of care is taken care of and, where there is one, the address and telephone details of the structure providing this service.

Veterinary care establishments, other than those operated by animal protection associations or foundations, shall be identified, as a minimum, by signposting characteristic represented by a white and blue, non-flashing, cross-shaped illuminated sign, the total dimension of which is 65 centimeters long, 15 centimeters high and 15 centimeters thick.

Showcase

Any public display case showing medicinal products, products and materials directly or indirectly connected with the pursuit of the profession shall be forbidden.

Communication to non-veterinary third parties

The communication may not encourage the use of a veterinary medicinal product subject to prescription.

The grouping together of tariff or promotional information relating to veterinary medicinal products, even under the cover of an associated technical communication, shall be prohibited.

Veterinarians who provide 24-hour continuous care may add the words "24-hour veterinarian" to the logo.

Veterinarian consultant and on-call service

Veterinary consultant

The veterinary consultant is a veterinarian who intervenes punctually at the request of the practitioner who usually takes care of the animal.

This one-time intervention is brought to the attention of the client, who consents.

The veterinary consultant may carry out his activity either at his own DPE or at that of the colleague or colleagues who have called on his services.

The name "veterinary consultant" shall not constitute a professional title.

Every veterinarian shall be entitled to practice all acts of animal medicine and surgery. However, a veterinarian shall not undertake or continue care or make prescriptions in areas beyond his knowledge, experience and means.

If necessary, the veterinarian who usually takes care of an animal may refer the client to another veterinary practitioner, general practitioner or specialist. The choice of this veterinarian consultant is ultimately up to the client. In any case, the attending veterinarian shall make available to the consulting veterinarian the commemorative documents relating to the animal.

The veterinary consultant must report as soon as possible and in writing on his interventions and prescriptions to the attending veterinarian who sent him this client.

Child care

Veterinarians must be involved in the permanence of care. Continuing care may be provided under an agreement established between veterinarians and deposited with the regional council of the Order.

In this context, veterinarians must make the public aware of the conditions under which they ensure that animals are cared for continuously. In all cases, the veterinarian must:

• Respond to any request addressed to him either directly in his field of competence or by referring the client to a colleague
• Endeavor to gather all information concerning possible previous interventions by other colleagues
• Limit intervention to acts justified by the emergency and encourage the owner or keeper of the animal to have his usual attending veterinarian follow up emergency care
• Report as soon as possible and in writing to the veterinarian on his interventions and prescriptions as indicated by the owner or keeper of the animal

Rules and regulations When a daycare service is created that groups together several professional practice entities, a It describes the different interventions for sick animals. It must be brought to the attention of the regional council of the Order.

Participation in businesses

Veterinarians may hold financial interests in the businesses of any kind, provided that, in the case of acquisitions of holdings in businesses connected with the exercise of the veterinary profession, these are brought to the attention of the College of Veterinarians.

Control is exercised by the Order. It aims to ensure that equity investments do not jeopardize the exercise the veterinary profession, in particular as regards:

• Health surveillance of livestock holdings
• The independence of veterinarians
• Compliance with the rules inherent in the profession of veterinary surgeon

Required absence or death

In the event of the compulsory absence or illness of a veterinarian, the service of his clients may be provided by his associates, by a replacement or, in the event of impossibility, by his neighboring colleagues. The latter shall withdraw as soon as the veterinarian who is unavailable resumes his activity and inform him of the nature and continuation of their operations.

In the event of the death or disappearance of a veterinarian, his partners and neighboring colleagues shall make themselves available to his heirs or legatees for the necessary time to ensure continuity of customer service. They must enable Member States to take all appropriate measures to safeguard their interests.

After the death of a veterinarian or in the event of an impediment established by the Regional Council of the Order, customer service may be provided, under the supervision of the latter, by one or more veterinarians regularly entered in the Table of the Order for a period of up to one year from the death or impediment.

The regional council of the Order ensures that the rights of the spouse and heirs or legatees are respected.

After one year, the EPD is deemed closed. However, if a child of the veterinarian who has died or been prevented from attending is, at the time of death or of the finding that he is prevented from attending, a pupil of a veterinary institution and indicates in writing, within six months, the intention to take over the clientele of his direct ascendant, the regional council of the Order may grant him the necessary time limits.

An additional period may also be granted to the children of veterinarians who hold a diploma in basic veterinary studies and who are covered by a professional contractual obligation not exceeding two years.

Communication with the Order

Change of domicile

Prior to any change of CCA or CCA without a change in ordinal region, the veterinarian must make the change statement to the Order's Regional Council under which he reports.

If this change is accompanied by a change of ordinal region, the veterinarian must first ask the president of the regional council of the Order to transfer his entry to the table of the regional council of the Order in whose jurisdiction his new home will be located.

It shall forward, at the time of the request, the information enabling the regional council of the Order to which it is subject to assess the closure of the contracts in progress. The latter is responsible for transferring the finalized file to the regional council of the Order of the new place of business of the person concerned.

A veterinarian who changes his DPA or DPE shall communicate to the regional council of the College within whose jurisdiction he proposes to exercise all information concerning his professional activity and in particular the contracts of association or employment which he has entered into or intends to enter into in connection with such a change.

Transfers of registrations are made immediately by the regional councils.

Termination of activity

The veterinarian who ceases to work shall inform the regional council of the Order as soon as possible, indicating, if there is one, the name of its successor and, where such exists, the terms of the non-competition clause.