
1 
This Order may be cited as the Veterinary Surgery (Epidural Anaesthesia of Bovines) Order 2010 and comes into force on 14th September 2010.
2 
The Veterinary Surgery (Epidural Anaesthesia) Order 1992 is revoked.
3 
In this Order—
 “approved course” means—
(a) a training course in the administration of epidural anaesthesia to bovines that is approved for the time being by the Secretary of State or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, after consultation with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; ...
(b) ...
 “embryo” means the initial stage of development of a domestic animal of the bovine species while it is capable of being transferred to a recipient dam;
 “embryo collection” means the collection of embryos from donor animals;
 “embryo collection or embryo transfer team” means a group of technicians approved, in the case of embryo collection teams, for the time being by the  Secretary of State or  by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ... and supervised by a team veterinarian competent to perform the collection, processing and storage, or the transfer of embryos;
 “embryo transfer” means the transfer of embryos into recipients;
 “team veterinarian” means a veterinary surgeon who is responsible for the supervision of an embryo collection or embryo transfer team; and
 “veterinary surgeon” means a person who is registered in the register of veterinary surgeons or the supplemental veterinary register.
4 

(1) Section 19(1) of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 does not prohibit the administration of epidural anaesthesia for the purpose of embryo collection or embryo transfer if the conditions in paragraph (2) are complied with.
(2) The conditions are that the person administering the epidural anaesthesia is 18 years or older and—
(a) is undergoing an approved course and administers the epidural anaesthesia under the direct and continuous personal supervision of a veterinary surgeon; or
(b) has successfully completed an approved course and—
(i) administers the epidural anaesthesia on the instructions and under the authority of a team veterinarian (or other person nominated by that team veterinarian) as a member of an embryo collection or embryo transfer team; and
(ii) if that person has not practised the administration of epidural anaesthesia in the period of two years immediately preceding the administration of the epidural anaesthesia, has, within that period, successfully completed a course of training approved by—(aa) the Secretary of State or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, after consultation with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; ...(bb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
as being suitable for renewing skills in the administration of epidural anaesthesia to bovines.
Jim Paice
Minister of State
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

David Mundell
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Scotland Office

David Jones
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Wales Office

Norman Fulton
A senior officer of the
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
