Veterinary Professional Indemnity Insurance — Endorsement

Application

This endorsement attaches to and forms part of the Meridian Professional Indemnity Insurance wording, version 1.5.0-DRAFT (document reference 2026/PI/0001), referred to here as the base wording. It changes the base wording only as set out below. All other terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of the base wording continue to apply.

Words defined in the base wording have the same meaning in this endorsement. Where this endorsement and the base wording conflict, this endorsement applies to the extent of the conflict.

The same terms are published as a single integrated wording, Veterinary Professional Indemnity Insurance, version 1.1.0-DRAFT. Both documents are generated from the same source and have the same effect.

Replaced: Professional services

The definition of Professional services in the base wording is deleted and replaced with the following.

Professional services

The following services provided for a fee, by or under the supervision of a veterinarian registered under the law of the state or territory in which the service is provided:

(a) the examination, diagnosis, treatment and surgery of animals, including general, specialist, equine, livestock, wildlife and exotic animal practice;

(b) prescribing, dispensing, administering and compounding veterinary medicines;

(c) veterinary advice and consultations given remotely (telehealth);

(d) pre-purchase and soundness examinations;

(e) health certificates and other veterinary certification, other than certification for the export of live animals;

(f) euthanasia; and

(g) any other service shown in the schedule as a professional service.

For a service given remotely under (c), the state or territory in which the service is provided is the one in which the animal is located.

Artificial breeding and reproductive services are professional services only if the Reproductive Services endorsement applies.

[WP REVIEW: confirm whether national recognition of veterinary registration resolves registration for telehealth given across state lines.]

Replaced: Products

The Products exclusion in the base wording is deleted and replaced with the following.

Products

Arising from the design, manufacture, supply, distribution, sale, or recall of any tangible product.

This exclusion does not apply to a claim that you were negligent in prescribing, dispensing, administering or compounding a medicine, or in selecting or supplying a product, in the course of treating or advising on an animal, even if the product was made by someone else and was defective. It continues to apply to a claim that is made only because a product made by someone else was defective, where you are not alleged to have been negligent.

This exposure is designed to be covered under a products liability policy.

Added: Animals in Care

The following extension is added to the base wording, after the Subcontractors and Outsourcers extension.

Animals in Care

Despite the Bodily Injury and Property Damage exclusion, we cover your liability, arising from your negligence or your failure to exercise reasonable care and skill, for the death of, injury to, or loss of an animal while it is in your care, custody or control for your professional services, including while it is hospitalised, boarded or transported by you. We do not cover liability that arises only because you have custody of the animal, without negligence.

The most we will pay under this extension for all claims in the policy period is the sub-limit shown in the schedule, or $100,000 if no sub-limit is shown, which is part of the limit of liability. This extension does not cover an animal that you own.

Added: Veterinary Boards

The following extension is added to the base wording, after the Animals in Care extension.

Veterinary Boards

We also pay defence costs under the Inquiry Costs extension for an investigation or inquiry by a veterinary practitioners board or veterinary surgeons board of a state or territory into your professional conduct, before it becomes a formal complaint or disciplinary proceeding.

A formal complaint or disciplinary proceeding before such a board is a claim within paragraph (e) of the definition of Claim. Cover for it continues under the Claims Against You clause instead of this extension.

Added: Emergency Treatment

The following extension is added to the base wording, after the Veterinary Boards extension.

Emergency Treatment

We cover a veterinarian you employ, or engage, who gives emergency first aid or treatment to an animal, without a fee, outside your practice, as if the treatment were a professional service.

Added: Animal Welfare and Biosecurity Penalties

The following exclusion is added to the base wording, after the Non-Compensatory Payments exclusion.

Animal Welfare and Biosecurity Penalties

For a fine or penalty under an animal welfare, prevention of cruelty to animals or biosecurity law, including a fine or penalty that the Statutory Liability extension would otherwise pay.

This exclusion does not apply to defence costs in a proceeding under such a law.

Added: High-Value Animals Excess

The following provision is added to the base wording, after the Excess provision.

High-Value Animals Excess

For a claim arising from the death of, or injury to, an animal worth more than $25,000, or from services to a herd or flock worth more than $100,000, the excess is the greater of the excess shown in the schedule and $5,000, unless the schedule shows a different amount for high-value animals.

The value of an animal, herd or flock is its market value immediately before the act, error or omission that caused the claim.

Veterinary Endorsements

The following endorsements apply to this policy only when the schedule shows that they apply.

An endorsement does not apply to the extent that a law requiring you to hold this insurance does not permit the cover it removes to be excluded or limited.

Racing Animals Excess

For a claim arising from services to a thoroughbred, standardbred or greyhound in training or racing, or bred for racing, the excess is the amount shown in the schedule for this endorsement.

Pre-purchase Examinations Sub-limit

For all claims arising from pre-purchase or soundness examinations, the most we will pay in total, including defence costs, is the sub-limit shown in the schedule for this endorsement. The sub-limit is part of, and not in addition to, the limit of liability.

Reproductive Services

Artificial breeding and reproductive services, including artificial insemination, embryo transfer, semen collection and pregnancy diagnosis, are professional services under this policy.

This endorsement does not cover genetic modification or gene therapy, or a claim that an animal failed to conceive or produce offspring of a particular quality, unless the failure was caused by your negligence.

Live Export Certification Exclusion

We do not cover any claim, loss or liability arising from inspecting or certifying animals for export, including as an accredited veterinarian under export control law, or from accompanying animals on an export voyage.