Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 1st August 2023
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Long-term risk to Northern Ireland vet meds supply, report warns
The current agreement over the supply of veterinary medicine to Northern Ireland will last until the end of 2025.

Supply issues could affect more than half of veterinary medicines.

A new report by a House of Lords committee has urged the UK and the EU to come to a sustainable agreement over the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland, following concerns raised by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and others.

The Windsor Framework agreement between the UK and the EU, which was announced in February 2023, safeguards the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland until the end of 2025. However, it is unclear at this stage what will happen after that date.

Giving evidence to the Sub-Committee on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, which produced the report, the BVA welcomed the extension of the grace period for veterinary medicines agreed in the Windsor Framework.

However, it warned that a failure to come up with a permanent solution could see veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland lose access to 51 per cent of the veterinary medicines they currently receive.

The loss of access would affect every part of the veterinary sector, including small animal, equine, and farm animal, the BVA told the committee, and would have ‘significant implications for animal health and welfare, public health, trade and the agricultural economy’.

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH), the Ulster Farmers’ Union and the Diary Council for Northern Ireland also warned about the supply issues which could arise without a permanent solution.

Based on this evidence, the report has called for a long-term deal on veterinary medicines to be agreed as soon as possible. The report says: ‘This issue needs to be resolved now rather than in 2025 when the cliff-edge is looming.’

The UK Government has said that it will continue to work to find a long-term solution.

A Defra spokesperson said: “We are committed to ensuring that Northern Ireland can continue to access the veterinary medicines and vaccines they need, and the three-year extension to the grace period has ensured an uninterrupted supply for these products in the immediate term.
 
“We will continue to work with stakeholders, and we are clear that only acceptable outcome will be one that provides a durable and sustainable solution which safeguards the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland.”

 

Image (C) Shutterstock

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 8 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.