New QR code guidance for vet medicine packaging
Any educational and instructional content must comply with the PLS.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has shared updated guidance on the use of QR codes on veterinary medicine packaging.
Marketing authorisation holders (MAHs) will now be allowed to link these QR codes to additional educational and instructional materials.
Previous guidance only permitted MAHs to use QR codes to link with non-public-facing materials. This included internal manufacturing information and approved product texts.
MAHs will now be able to link these QR codes to educational and instructional content, providing it complies with principles published on the Product Literature Standards (PLS).
This content is expected to give users guidance on how to administer medicine correctly, what to expect during treatment and how to store the product safely. The VMD says users will feel ‘confident’ in using medicines correctly and safely.
It is not a requirement for these products to have QR codes on their packaging. Pharmaceutical companies may also use QR codes for their own compliance and counterfeit contingencies.
Gavin Hall, deputy CEO at the VMD, said: “Updating our QR code guidance provides the opportunity for additional digital educational and instructional material alongside the essential information already included on veterinary medicine packaging and in product leaflets. This supplementary content can give vets and pet owners convenient access to further guidance on the safe and effective use of medicines.
“We are committed to working with industry to embrace digital innovation while maintaining the rigorous, risk-based standards that protect animal and public health.”
Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
