Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2025/1223 of 10 April 2025 amending Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the minimum training requirements for the profession of veterinary surgeon

Amendments to Directive 2005/36/EC

Article 1

Directive 2005/36/EC is amended as follows: (1) in Article 38, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: ‘3.   Training as a veterinary surgeon shall provide an assurance that the professional in question has acquired the following knowledge and skills: (a) knowledge of the sciences on which the activities of a veterinary surgeon are based and of the EU law relating to those activities; (b) adequate knowledge of the structure, functions, behaviour and physiological needs of animals, as well as the skills and competences needed for their husbandry, feeding, welfare, reproduction and hygiene in general; (c) the clinical, epidemiological and analytical skills and competences required for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the diseases of animals, as well as to assess and manage pain, safely perform aseptic surgery, sedation, anaesthesia and euthanasia, whether considered individually or in groups, including specific knowledge of the diseases which may be transmitted to humans; (d) adequate knowledge, skills and competences for preventive medicine, including competences relating to biosecurity, inquiries and certification; (e) adequate knowledge of the hygiene and technology involved in the production, manufacture and putting into circulation of animal feedstuffs or foodstuffs of animal origin intended for human consumption, including the skills and competences required to understand and explain good practice in this regard; (f) the knowledge, skills and competences required for the responsible and sensible use of veterinary medicinal products, in order to treat animals and to ensure the safety of the food chain and the protection of the environment; (g) adequate knowledge and understanding of the One Health concept, including skills and competences for its application and integration in veterinary public health; (h) knowledge of the organisation and management related to a veterinary business, including practice management and animal health economics; adequate knowledge, skills and competences on interpersonal and interprofessional interaction, communication, teamworking and multi-disciplinary collaboration; (i) adequate knowledge of data management, information technology and digital technologies, and the skills and competences necessary for their practical application in the veterinary domain.’ ; (2) Annex V is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.

Transposition

Article 2

1.   Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 10 April 2027 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. 2.   Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Entry into force

Article 3

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

Addressees

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

ANNEXSupplementary provisions

ANNEX In Annex V to Directive 2005/36/EC, point 5.4.1 is replaced by the following: ‘5.4.1    Study programme for veterinary surgeons The programme of studies leading to the evidence of formal qualifications in veterinary medicine shall include at least the subjects listed below. Instruction in one or more of these subjects may be given as part of, or in association with, other courses. A. Basic subjects — Physics — Chemistry — Animal and cell biology — Plant biology — Biomathematics B. Specific subjects a. Basic sciences: — Anatomy (including histology and embryology) — Physiology — Biochemistry — Genetics and molecular genetics — Pharmacy, pharmacology and pharmacotherapy (including antimicrobial resistance) — Toxicology — Microbiology — Immunology — Epidemiology — Professional ethics b. Clinical sciences: — Obstetrics — Pathology (including pathological anatomy) — Parasitology — Clinical medicine and surgery (including anaesthetics) — Clinical lectures on the various domestic animals, poultry and other animal species — Preventive medicine — Diagnostic imaging — Reproduction and reproductive disorders — Veterinary state medicine and public health — Veterinary legislation and forensic veterinary medicine — Therapeutics — Propaedeutics c. Animal production — Animal production — Animal nutrition — Agronomy — Rural economics — Animal husbandry and herd health management — Veterinary hygiene — Animal welfare, ethology and protection d. Food hygiene — Inspection and control of animal feedstuff or foodstuff of animal origin — Food hygiene, technology and food microbiology — Practical work (including practical work in places where slaughtering and processing of foodstuffs takes place) Practical training may be in the form of a training period, provided that such training is full-time and under the direct control of the competent authority, and does not exceed six months within the aggregate training period of five years study. The distribution of the theoretical and practical training among the various groups of subjects shall be balanced and coordinated in such a way that the knowledge and experience may be acquired in a manner which will enable veterinary surgeons to perform all their duties.’