Use of premises as veterinary premises

Veterinary Surgeons Board Approval Application Pack

A print friendly version of the Approval Application Pack for Use of Premises as Veterinary Premises ( PDF 185 kB) is available for download.

Included is:

• Form 18 - Application for Approval to Use Premises as Veterinary Premises
• Explanation of how premises standards apply to range of premises
• Form 19 - Veterinary Premises Standards Submission Form
• Credit Card Payment Form
• Attachments         
  • Records
  • Storage of Restricted/Controlled Drugs
  • Radiation Health Licensing Guidelines

Veterinary premises approval information sheet

(Veterinary Premises means premises approved for use as veterinary premises under Part 4A of the Queensland Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936)

Applying For Approval

Section 25A of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936  provides that a person must apply to the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland (the Board) for approval to use premises as veterinary premises.  The application must be in the approved form and be supported by enough information to enable the Board to decide the application, and be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

The Board may by written notice require the applicant to allow a member or officer of the Board to inspect the premises the subject of the application.

The Board may impose on an approval any reasonable condition the Board decides and amend, suspend or cancel an approval on reasonable grounds.

Offence and professional misconduct provisions apply to persons conducting a veterinary practice at premises not approved by the Board, those not complying with a condition of an approval and those submitting false information in an application.

Approval is required to:

• Establish new premises;
• Re-locate existing approved premises;
• Upgrade existing approved premises to a higher level of practice; and
• Use existing unapproved premises.

The documents to be submitted are:

• Approval for Veterinary Premises Application Form (Form 18)
• Veterinary Premises Standards Submission Form (Form 19)
• Detailed floor plan of premises showing design, identifying work and public areas, and size (m²), location of equipment, furniture and fittings, water supply, restricted drug storage area and controlled drug receptacles, customer parking and access. 

Note:  Photographs can be submitted as additional supporting information.

• Evidence of possession licence (or receipt of application) for x-ray equipment if installed.
• Prescribed application fee of $119.70

If a Board inspection of the premises is required in the approval process, the applicant will be advised in writing.  (An additional fee of $239.55 is applicable in these circumstances.)  Payment of the additional fee will be required before an inspection can be undertaken and will be requested in writing.

Note:  A Board inspection will be conducted in all applications where the premises are intended to be designated as a veterinary hospital or veterinary centre.

A Board inspection will be conducted in all applications where the premises are wholly owned by non-veterinarians including animal welfare groups and the premises are intended for the conduct of general anaesthetic procedures.

The Board may refuse to grant the application if satisfied that:

• The premises are not suitable for use having regard to the standards applied;
• A veterinary surgeon will not be practising at the premises;
• The applicant (and if a corporation, any of the corporation executive officers), has been convicted of a disqualifying offence.

Forward all completed forms, documents and prescribed fee to:

Registrar

Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland
GPO Box 46
BRISBANE QLD 4001

Further information on completing the submission form can be obtained by contacting the Registrar on telephone +61 7 3239 3600 or email vsbqld@dpi.qld.gov.au.

The submission is designed to be a self assessment document to ensure planning for proposed veterinary premises addresses in entirety the uniform minimum standards of veterinary premises applied across the state for the purpose of consumer and animal welfare protection.  The premises will not be formally approved for use as veterinary premises until such approval is advised in writing by the Board.  However, construction/development need not be delayed pending formal approval if the submission self assessment shows that the premises will meet the required standards.

Note:  A copy of the completed submission form should be retained by the applicant.  A change of ownership will necessitate the purchaser providing a statement to the Board as to the premises' current conformity with the standards.  If satisfied with the statement the Board will issue a further approval in the name of the purchaser.