Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2007 - Consultation

Veterinary surgeons should only be able to supply veterinary medicines from registered premises: that's one of the proposals made by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) in its consultation on the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2007.

EU law requires member states to be able to check the records kept by retail suppliers of POM veterinary medicines. The current situation in the UK does not allow for this.

The VMD proposes to introduce a requirement for the registration of premises from which veterinary medicines are supplied, which will enable controls on the supply of veterinary medicinal products, including controlled drugs, to be enhanced.

One of the options is for all premises from which a veterinary surgeon supplies a medicine to be registered with the Secretary of State, with such a requirement coming into force on 1 April 2009.

The VMD has had exploratory talks with the RCVS and has investigated whether the College would be a suitable body to handle such registration. As the College currently holds information on approximately 90% of practices as part of its Directory of Veterinary Practices, this option could minimise costs and bureaucracy. In addition, linking with the Practice Standards Scheme could minimise duplication of information required from accredited practices, as a medicines inspection is already in place.

RCVS Council has not yet formulated a position on whether it wishes to take on the task of practice registration, or how such registration might be carried out.  Papers will be discussed at the College's May committee round and a final response to the consultation will be agreed at its 8 June Council meeting.

The College will be consulting with veterinary organisations. Individual veterinary surgeons are welcome to submit comments to the RCVS, care of the Communications Department, RCVS, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF or by email on [email protected], to be received by 30 April.

The VMD's consultation can be found online.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Lizzie Lockett (020 7202 0725) [email protected]
Communications Department
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The RCVS is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the UK and deals with issues of professional misconduct, maintaining the register of veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK and assuring standards of veterinary education. It also has a 'Royal College' role, which means that it is responsible for post-graduate educational and veterinary nursing qualifications.