Important News for all Registered SQP's

The Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) 2024

The Veterinary Medicines Regulations were updated on 17th May 2024. There are significant changes, which may affect SQPs in their day to day role. VetSkill has compiled a list of the most applicable changes, but it is recommended that all SQPs refer to the updated VMR and also the updated SQP Code of Practice for a complete overview of the updates.

Advertising of Veterinary Medicines

The advertisement of veterinary medicines must be clear, encourage responsible use, present the medication in an objective manner and contain no misleading information. This additional information is applicable to veterinary medicinal products, medicinal premix, intermediate feeding stuff and compound feed. 

Sale of Veterinary Medicines Online

All online retailers for POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS must be registered with the VMD.  Veterinary Medicines Regulations will apply in the same way to online retailers as they do to ‘over the counter’ sales. An application for registration must be submitted at least two months before the sale of veterinary medicines begins. Existing internet retailers and online suppliers have until 17th July 2024 to register with the VMD.

Withdrawal Periods

There are significant updates to the withdrawal periods for food producing animals. An appropriate withdrawal period must now be specified. Calculations have been updated and specified within Schedule 4 of the VMR.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Additional provisions have been added to ensure that antibiotics are prescribed appropriately. Antibiotics cannot be used routinely, used to compensate for poor hygiene, inadequate husbandry or poor farm management practices or to promote growth and increase yield. Antibiotics cannot be prescribed for prophylactic purposes – i.e. preventatively; unless a specific set of circumstances are present. 

The Cascade

When prescribing medicines under the cascade, it is vital that adequate assessments are undertaken and that there is an evidence base for prescription decisions. A person must not promote or facilitate any purported use of the cascade which is not in accordance with Schedule 4 of the VMR. Non-compliance with these conditions are considered an offence.

Remote Supply

An SQP may delegate to a colleague, the handing over or despatch of the product, providing that the SQP authorises each transaction individually before the product is supplied and is satisfied that the person handing over or despatching the product is competent to do so correctly.

Record Keeping

The VMR require records to be kept of the supply and administration of medicines in certain circumstances. Any person prescribing or supplying POM-V or POM-VPS must now record additional information in relation to the transaction which show:

· the date of the transaction under which the product was received or supplied

· the name of the product

· the pharmaceutical form and strength of the product

· the batch number (if the product is for a non-food producing animal then the batch number can be recorded on the date it is first received or on the date product from that batch is first supplied)

· the quantity of product received or supplied

· the company name and the permanent address or registered place of business of:

o   in respect of a purchase, the supplier

o   in respect of a sale, the recipient

· if there is a written prescription, the name and contact details of the prescriber

· the expiry date

· In the case of a medicine which has been prescribed but not against a written prescription, the reason for prescribing that medicine.

These records must be kept for five years at the authorised premises.

Written Prescriptions

Written prescriptions must contain a specific series of information. This now includes the following wording: “It is an offence under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 for a person to alter a written prescription unless authorised to do so by the person who signed it”.

Further Reading

1. SQP Code of Practice: 1999847_SQP_Code_of_Practice_-_Review_2020.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

2. The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2024: The Veterinary Medicines (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk)