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VMD to phase out COVID-19 medicines facilitations
The relaxation will last until 31 August 2020 and then cease.
Temporary retail supply measures to cease on 31 August. 

Temporary measures to allow vets to delegate the supply of veterinary medicines to internet retailers or wholesale dealers for home delivery are to cease on the 31 August.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) first relaxed the enforcement of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMF) in April to meet social distancing guidelines. Now, in light of the easing of lockdown, the VMD has announced a final extension to these measures.

In a statement, the VMD writes: ‘In view of the updated Government guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this notice amended has been amended to provide that the VMD has made a final extension to the temporary relaxation of the specific provisions of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013. This relaxation will now last until 31 August 2020 and then cease’.

The VMD states that it will not issue an improvement notice if there are breaches of the relevant provisions of Schedule 3 of the VMR during this period.
 
 'This is a temporary VMD enforcement policy in relation to specific obligations under the VMR only,' the VMD writes. 'The VMR continue to apply. The VMD may continue to take action to enforce those obligations in cases where the procedures described in the statement are not followed.'

‘These changes do not affect the existing provisions that allow a veterinary surgeon in exceptional circumstances, for example for animal welfare reasons, to instruct a Wholesale Dealer Authorisation holder to deliver medicines to the client’s premises.’

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.