Alvin Tan on Veterinary Practice Bill

Singapore’s pet population and demand for vet services have grown, with the number of licensed vets at about 700 as of end-2025. Against this backdrop, the government will set up a Veterinary Council to raise professional standards. There will be a tiered registration framework - full, restricted and specialist - to better differentiate a vet’s qualification, training and experience. Only vets have to be registered at the outset, but the plan is to extend this to other vet professionals. The maximum financial penalty will be raised to S$50,000 - up by S$4,000. Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan, who outlined the key features of the bill in parliament on Wednesday (Apr 8), said it will strengthen accountability, animal health and welfare outcomes and public confidence in the sector. The Veterinary Council will be set up this year, followed by the registration regime and disciplinary framework next year. This will give the sector sufficient time to adapt and strengthen its processes, said Mr Tan.