Veterinary Practice Act 2026 · Updated to 1 Aug 2026 · Part 4 · Offences and Related Matters
29. Prohibition of practice of veterinary medicine
Feedback & supportSubject to subsections (2) to (5), an individual must not practise veterinary medicine in Singapore unless the individual is a duly qualified veterinarian.
veterinary medicine
“veterinary medicine” means any branch of veterinary medicine, and includes veterinary surgery;
Subsection (1) does not apply to the doing of any act within the practice of veterinary medicine, other than any prescribed act, by any veterinary student if the act is done —
practice of veterinary medicine
“practice of veterinary medicine” means the performance of any procedure on, the giving of any treatment to (or advice in relation to), or the attendance to, an animal that is usually carried out or given by veterinarians, such as —(a)the diagnosis of any disease in, or injury to, the animal, including the performance of any test for the purpose of diagnosing the physiological or pathological condition of the animal;(b)the giving of advice based on such diagnosis;(c)the medical treatment (including of a dental or surgical nature) of the animal;(d)the administration of anaesthetics to the animal;(e)the prescription of any drug or medication for the animal;(f)the issuance or endorsement of any certificate, report or document in relation to the animal that requires or implies the exercise of professional veterinary judgment, including a document stating or attesting to any of the following matters in relation to the animal:(i)health status, disease status, vaccination status or physical condition;(ii)identity, age, sex or neuter status;(iii)cause of death or findings of a post‑mortem examination;(iv)the performance of any treatment, test or procedure,and “practise veterinary medicine” is to be construed accordingly;
in accordance with any prescribed condition;
in the course of the veterinary student’s training to become a veterinarian; and
under the supervision of a duly qualified veterinarian.
Subsection (1) does not apply to the inoculation of an animal with any veterinary biologics by —
animal
“animal” means a mammal (other than a human being), a bird, a reptile, an amphibian, or a fish (including a crustacean, mollusc or other aquatic invertebrate), and includes the young or egg of any animal;
an authorised officer; or
an individual who holds a valid licence mentioned in section 55(1) of the Animals and Birds Act 1965, if the inoculation is performed in accordance with the conditions of that licence.
Subsection (1) does not apply to an individual who keeps or uses any animal for any scientific purpose in any premises if the keeping or use of the animal in those premises and for that purpose —
is authorised by a licence issued under the Animals and Birds Act 1965; and
is carried out in accordance with that Act and the conditions of that licence.
Subsection (1) does not apply to the doing of any act (not being an excluded act) within the practice of veterinary medicine by an individual (not being an individual whose registration as a veterinarian or whose practising certificate is suspended under Part 5) if the act is done in accordance with any prescribed condition and under the supervision of a duly qualified veterinarian.
practising certificate
“practising certificate” means a practising certificate granted or renewed under section 23;
An individual who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
In this section —
“authorised officer” and “veterinary biologics” have the respective meanings given by section 2(1) of the Animals and Birds Act 1965;
“excluded act” means —
the diagnosis of any disease in, or injury to, an animal, including the performance of a test for the purpose of diagnosing the physiological or pathological condition of the animal;
any treatment (of a surgical nature) of an animal;
the prescription of any drug or medication for an animal;
the issuance or endorsement of any certificate, report or document in relation to an animal that requires or implies the exercise of professional veterinary judgment, including a document stating or attesting to any of the following matters in relation to the animal:
health status, disease status, vaccination status or physical condition;
identity, age, sex or neuter status;
cause of death or findings of a post‑mortem examination;
the performance of any treatment, test or procedure; or
any other act that may be prescribed.