The government has introduced legislation to modernise the Veterinary Medicines Regulations and maintain the UK as an attractive place to develop and market veterinary medicines.
The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 set out the controls on the marketing, manufacture, distribution, possession, and administration of veterinary medicines and medicated feed. They are a critical tool to help protect animal health, public health and the environment.
The legislation will implement the plans set out in the recently published government response to last year’s public consultation, which received widespread support from the veterinary medicines sector.
The new regulations seek to reduce regulatory burden and facilitate the submission of one marketing authorisation application dossier to enable common packaging to be used across the UK.
Other changes include the introduction of measures to help tackle antimicrobial resistance by increasing restrictions on the use of antibiotics and antibiotics administered via feed.
Abi Seager, chief executive of the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, said: “I am delighted that this much-anticipated legislation has been brought to Parliament.
“I would like to thank Lord Douglas-Miller for his input, and our stakeholders for helping to shape our thinking, both in responses to our consultation and through other contributions. We eagerly await parliamentarians discussing our proposals, and we hope they support these much-needed changes.”
The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) said it welcomes the news that the government has now introduced into Parliament the proposed legislation to implement The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2024.
NOAH chief executive Dawn Howard said: “We look forward to this vital piece of legislation being adopted. The UK animal health industry needs a robust, up-to-date regulatory system to ensure the authorisation and availability of the veterinary medicines necessary to protect and improve animal health and welfare in the UK.
“This not only benefits animals, but also helps to protect human and environmental health while positively contributing to societal sustainability goals.
“The next important step in the process is scrutiny in both the House of Lords and the House of Commons and we remain available to put forward the views of the animal health industry on this important piece of legislation. Following scrutiny, we hope to see this legislation adopted as soon as possible with the associated benefits this will bring to the regulatory environment for veterinary medicines.”
