With the continuing and unique challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has re-issued statements setting out temporary VMD enforcement policies in relation to specific obligations under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations .
These policies allow, in exceptional circumstances, for relaxations concerning the temporary change of veterinary practice and SQP retailer premises and the arrangements for SQP remote prescribing and authorisation of supply to be applied where:
- the veterinary practice premises (VPP)/SQP retailer is located in an area where the Government has deployed local lockdown measures; and/or
- a veterinary surgeon/SQP needs to self-isolate, for example because they have tested positive for the virus or due to contact tracing.
SQP retailer: temporary change of premises
The VMD has adopted the approach set out in a PDF – SQP retailer: temporary change of premises – which only applies in the following circumstances:
- the SQP retailer is located in an area where the Government has deployed local lockdown measures; and/or
- an SQP needs to self-isolate, for example because they have tested positive for the virus or due to contact tracing.
In practice, this means that during this period and under these circumstances:
(a) a suitably qualified person (SQP) will be allowed to supply veterinary medicines from temporary premises when access to the SQP retailer premises is limited or no longer possible; and
(b) wholesale dealers will be allowed to supply veterinary medicines to SQPs at such temporary premises.
Veterinary practice premises: temporary change of premises
This Veterinary practice premises: temporary change of premises statement sets out the temporary relaxation of specific provisions of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (VMR), which only applies in the following circumstances:
- the veterinary practice premises is located in an area where the Government has deployed local lockdown measures; and/or
- a veterinary surgeon needs to self‐isolate, for example because they have tested positive for the virus or due to contact tracing.
In practice, this means that during this period and under these circumstances:
(a) veterinary surgeons will be allowed to supply veterinary medicines from a temporary premises when access to the VPP registered with the RCVS is limited or no longer possible; and
(b) wholesale dealers will be allowed to supply veterinary medicines to veterinary surgeons at such temporary premises.
SQP: prescribing and authorisation of supply
This SQP: prescribing and authorisation of supply statement sets out the temporary relaxation of specific provisions of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (VMR), which only applies in the following circumstances:
- the SQP retailer is located in an area where the Government has deployed local lockdown measures; and/or
- an SQP needs to self‐isolate, for example because they have tested positive for the virus or due to contact tracing.
In practice, this means that during this period and under these circumstances SQPs will be allowed to prescribe and authorise supply remotely.
