---
title: "Veterinary code of professional conduct (code de déontologie vétérinaire) · Treats"
description: "The veterinary code of professional conduct is the set of professional rules laid down in articles R242-32 and following of the French Rural Code; it applies in particular to vets practising in France under article L241-1 of that code."
url: https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/code-de-deontologie-veterinaire/
lang: en-GB
updated: 2026-11-08
---

[Glossary](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/)

# Veterinary code of professional conductcode de déontologie vétérinaire

The veterinary code of professional conduct is the set of professional rules laid down in articles R242-32 and following of the French Rural Code; it applies in particular to vets practising in France under article L241-1 of that code.

These rules form section 2 of the chapter on the [Ordre des vétérinaires](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/ordre-des-veterinaires/), covering articles R242-32 to R242-84\. The current version of article R242-32 has applied since 26 November 2021, under decree no. 2021-1519.

The code applies in particular to vets practising under article L241-1, to vets from the European Union or the European Economic Area practising in France, to the companies referred to in article L241-17, and to veterinary students who do not yet hold a doctorate (article R242-32).

Article R242-33 sets out two principles: the exercise of the veterinary art is personal, and a vet may not give up their professional independence in any form.

## Sources

* [French Rural Code, article R242-32 (Légifrance)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article%5Flc/LEGIARTI000035416568/)
* [French Rural Code, article R242-33 (Légifrance)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article%5Flc/LEGIARTI000030361197)
* [French Rural Code, section 2 on the veterinary code of professional conduct, articles R242-32 to R242-84 (Légifrance)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/id/LEGISCTA000006168195)

 Checked on 8 November 2026 · by [Amir Davies](https://www.treats.vet/en/about/amir-davies/)

## See also

* [Ordre des vétérinaires](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/ordre-des-veterinaires/) The Ordre des vétérinaires is the statutory body every practising vet in France must join; it keeps the register of vets and enforces professional ethics and independence (article L242-1 of the French Rural Code).
* [Veterinary specialist](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/veterinaire-specialiste/) The title of veterinary specialist is reserved to vets who meet the diploma requirements of article R812-55 of the French Rural Code, in a specialty on the list set by the minister responsible for agriculture.
* [Continuity and out-of-hours cover of care](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/continuite-et-permanence-des-soins/) Continuity of care is the duty of a vet to ensure follow-up for the animals entrusted to them, and out-of-hours cover is the duty to take part in the emergency duty rota (articles R242-48 and R242-61 of the French Rural Code).