The Vet Council's April 2026 amendments to the Code of Professional Conduct introduced two significant changes: a formal definition of what it means for an animal to be "under the care of a veterinarian", and a three-tier framework for veterinarians who provide a specific and limited range of veterinary services. Both changes are now in effect.

Here is some guidance to help vets understand the changes and how they apply.

A document that explains some frequently asked questions about these changes is 

Under the Care and specific and limited guidance

Cheat sheet summarising the changes to the Code.

Advanced Services decision tool and explanatory notes working document

This guidance is designed to help veterinarians determine whether they qualify to provide Advanced Services under the Specific and Limited Framework in section 5.12 of the Code of Professional Conduct (April 2026), and to understand what obligations apply when they do.

This guidance is intended to help veterinary practices understand their obligations under the Privacy Act 2020, and to provide practical support for meeting those obligations. It is not a substitute for legal advice.

Definition of a Veterinary Practice / Veterinary Business (working document)

The Vet Council has defined what a veterinary practice (also referred to as a veterinary business) is to help vets understand the different practice categories and the obligations associated with them.  

This advice particularly clarifies the distinction between a General Veterinary Practice and a Specific and Limited practice and outlines what this means for emergency care provisions. 

Terms of Service Agreements: Guidance for Veterinary Businesses (working document)

This guidance helps veterinary businesses understand what should be included in a written agreement with clients when accepting animals under their care. It supports compliance with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand's Code of Professional Conduct (Code), which, from April 2026, requires veterinarians to document the agreement to provide veterinary services to a client's animals (Code, Section 2.4).

Authorisation of adult cat and dog vaccinations for administration by veterinary nurses during the current veterinary workforce shortage

Under the Care and Specific and Limited Services

The Hub

Policy on Registration

Policy on Limited Registration

Policy for veterinarians practising under AVE Limited Registration

Policy on Provisional Registration

Policy on Specialist Registration

Policy on registration under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act

Policy on qualifications and post nominal titles for inclusion on the Register of Veterinarians

Registration policies

Policy on Competence and Competence Assessment

Policy on the management of health impaired veterinarians

Regulatory functions

Policy on the collection and handling of personal information

Information Security Policy

Policy on the management of conflicts of interest

Governance Policies

Policies

Policy on English Competence and English Tests

Policy on Recency of Practice

Policy on the use of titles

Registration standards

Competency Standards and Performance Indicators for Veterinarians

Introduction

Summary: The 7 principles

1. Animal welfare

2. Client relationships

3. Professional relationships

4. Professional integrity

5. Veterinary services

6. Veterinary medicines

7. Legislative requirements

Glossary

Code of Professional Conduct

Statement on Veterinary Emergency Care

Statement: Authorisation of Xylazine for use by non-veterinarians

Prohibiting the use of Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials

Authorisation During Major Disruptive Events and Emergencies

Health Practitioners Undertaking Surgical Procedures on Animals

Compounding Veterinary Medicines

Discretionary Use of Human and Veterinary Medicines by Veterinarians

Cattle Disbudding and Dehorning by Non-Veterinarians

Authorisation of Dry Cow Therapy - Effective until 30 December 2026

Authorisation of Dry Cow Therapy - Effective from 1 January 2027

Manufacturing Veterinary Medicines

Certification of fitness for transport of livestock

Induction of Calving in Cattle

Statements

Privacy guidance (working document)

Guidance on Veterinary Care for Farm Dogs

Veterinary Guidance for Managing Public Presentations of Sick or Dead Wild Birds During an HPAI Outbreak

Guidance for authorisation of controlled drugs in veterinary medicine

Guidance on AI Transcription and Client Privacy: Protecting Personal Information in the Digital Age

Delegating procedures on cats and dogs to veterinary nurses and technicians

Can a veterinarian send expired RVMs to charities offshore

Health practitioners undertaking non-surgical procedures on animals

Reclassification of fentanyl, tramadol, zopiclone and zolpidem

Veterinary supervision

Flystrike table

Dry Cow Antibiotic Therapy

Recent changes to penicillin withholding periods

Remote Veterinary Care (Telehealth and Telemedicine)

Anaesthetic Monitoring

Dealing with cases of suspected or actual animal abuse and family violence

Social media

Veterinarians' role in Maintaining New Zealand's Biosecurity

Non-consented human medicines used by veterinarians

Mentoring Guidelines

Meat Processing in New Zealand

Guidance

Untitled

Client relationships

Technical advice

Client Service Agreements: Guidance for Veterinary Businesses (working document)

Guidance on Critical Reasoning, Team Learning and Safety-focused practices in Veterinary Clinics

Communicating emergency care, after hours services to clients

Pregnancy in the Veterinary Workplace

Emergency services advice for new practices

Handling complaints

Accredited employer work visa

Opening vet clinics on Easter Sunday

Practice guidance

Guidance on completing your Annual Practising Certificate (APC) application

Process guidance

Professional standards and guidance

Case study: Diagnostic decision making and client communication

Case study: Client communication and informed consent

Case study: Informed consent and the competence assessment process

Case study: What happens when a veterinarian falls short of the expected standard?