Portuguese veterinarians petition to reduce VAT on pet care

The Order of Veterinarians (OMV) has submitted a petition to the Assembly of the Republic in Portugal seeking to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on veterinary services for companion animals. The petition, which gathered approximately 8,000 signatures, proposes lowering the tax rate from the current 23% to 6%.

Due to the number of signatures collected, the initiative must be discussed in a plenary session once validated. The OMV stated that the high level of public support reflects a growing societal awareness regarding the importance of accessible veterinary medicine for animal and public health.

Representatives of the OMV have met with parliamentary political parties to advocate for this reduction in the 2027 State Budget. Pedro Fabrica, the president of the OMV, noted that the issue impacts a significant portion of the population, as an estimated 2.2 million families in the country own at least one pet.