Register of practice premises comes closer

VMD to consult on proposed register for 2009

The Veterinary Medicines Regulations provide for the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to keep a register of premises at which veterinary medicines are stored or supplied. From 1 April 2009, it will be unlawful for a veterinary surgeon to supply veterinary medicines from unregistered premises.

The purpose of the new register is to help the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) monitor compliance with the law on medicines (including controlled drugs).

Last year, RCVS Council agreed that the College should keep the register on behalf of the VMD, subject to further consideration of what kinds of premises should have to be registered. That question has been discussed with the VMD, which is about to consult on the revised regulations which will come into force on 1 October 2008.

The consultation is expected to propose that the register should be specifically of veterinary practice premises. The point of the change of wording is to make clear that it is not necessary to register client's premises, such as a farm or an equine establishment, simply because a veterinary surgeon supplies medicines there from time to time.

The VMD will also consult on a Veterinary Medicines Guidance Note which includes guidance on what "veterinary practice premises" means.

The Regulations will lay down a registration fee to cover the administrative costs incurred by the RCVS in setting up the register and keeping it up to date.

The VMD will consult on a proposed fee, and the RCVS has advised the Directorate that an annual fee of £40 for each premises registered would cover the expected costs.

The intention is that practices which are accredited under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme should not have to pay any more than now, because the information that they already supply to the College will cover what is needed for the new register. However, £40 per RCVS-accredited practice premises will be allocated to funding the new statutory register.

The VMD intends that registered premises should be subject to inspection from 1 April 2009, and will consult separately on possible arrangements for inspection.

Practices within the Practice Standards Scheme are already subject to inspections, which cover the storage and handling of medicines. The VMD is not expected to want to duplicate inspections carried out within the Scheme.