1. Reason for Revision

The Veterinarians Act has been revised (Law No. 20087; promulgated on January 23, 2024) to include the actions that deteriorate the dignity of veterinarians as grounds for suspension of the license validity. If a veterinarian commits an action that deteriorate the dignity, the Chairman of the Veterinary Medical Association may request a suspension of the license to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs following deliberation and resolution by the Ethics Committee of the Veterinary Medical Association. The proposed revision is intended to establish the matters delegated by the Act and the matters necessary for the implementation of such matters, including matters regarding the organization and operation of the Ethics Committee.

2. Main Contents

A. Establishment of the details of the organization and operation of the Ethics Committee of the Korean Veterinary Medical Association (Articles 18-2 to 18-4 of the draft) 

○ The revision stipulates that the Ethics Committee shall be composed of eleven members including one chairperson, including include four or more external members who are not members of the Korea Veterinary Medical Association; shall review and make resolutions on the matters* authorized by the law; and shall pass resolutions on the suspension of license validity against an action to deteriorate the dignity of the member, with at least 2/3 of the members in attendance and the approval of at least 2/3 of the members in attendance, while excluding members who have a relationship with the parties to the proposed agenda from the process of review and resolution.

* Matters requiring judgments of clinical techniques according to the latter part excluding each subparagraph of Article 32 (2) of the Act, and matters regarding requests for a suspension of license validity in accordance with Article 32-2 of the Act.

B. Establishment of the elements of acts* that deteriorate the dignity of a veterinarian (Article 20-2 of the draft)