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Posted: 5th April 2023

RCVS publishes sustainability guidance for practices
The new requirements are designed to help practices reduce their environmental impact.
New Practice Standards Scheme requirements begin in June.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has published guidance for practices about how to meet the new environmental sustainability requirements that will form part of the Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) from 1 June 2023.

It is hoped the changes will help practices to lessen their impact on the environment through reducing greenhouse gas emissions from both their clinical and non-clinical areas.

At Core Standards level, all practices will need to have a written sustainability policy, signed by a practice manager or director. Practices will also need to be able to show that they are using ectoparasiticides and endoparasiticides responsibly.

At General Practice level, changes include a new requirement for practices to appoint a sustainability champion or create a sustainability team. They will also need to employ techniques to minimise the use of anaesthetic gas.

The new standards were approved in June 2022 by the RCVS Council, following work by the organisation’s Environment & Sustainability Working Party.

PSS is a voluntary accreditation initiative which encourages veterinary practices to maintain the highest standards of veterinary care. More than two-thirds of UK practices currently participate in the scheme.

RCVS junior vice-president Sue Paterson, who chaired the Environment & Sustainability Working Party, said: “As a profession concerned with animal health and welfare, I know that many practices are already doing outstanding work to mitigate their environmental impact, for example, by reducing carbon emissions and being aware of the potential impact of veterinary medicines on the environment and biodiversity.

“These new standards within the PSS will add a framework to the good practice we already see in the profession and ensure that all members of the professions consider their responsibilities to the wider environment and ecosystems around them.

“The guidance we have published provides clear, ‘how-to’ information to explain the standards. It will be very useful to practices which are going to be assessed as part of the PSS, but it is relevant and can be used by all practices, whether they are in the PSS or not.”

The new guidance is available to read online.



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