IFA Sets Out Stall on Vet Meds Issue at DAFM Stakeholder Meeting
The IFA’s TJ Maher has expressed concern following the meeting of the IFA and the Department of Agriculture yesterday, that the implementation of the EU Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation 2019 – 2026 through the Statutory Instrument for Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation could cause severely limited competition in the supply of veterinary medicines for farmers if it is not framed in the right way.
“From the outset IFA have identified the importance of maintaining an active role for all current stakeholders in the prescribing and supplying of veterinary medicines for farmers. This includes Private Veterinary Practitioners, Licensed Merchants and Co-ops and Veterinary Pharmacies. Implementing the requirements of the EU Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation 2019/6 will lead to an additional burden on farmers in sourcing veterinary medicines, in particular antiparasitic products. This must be kept to an absolute minimum. TJ Maher said.
“Access to competitively priced vaccines is a key component of reducing the necessity to use antibiotics on farms and where possible easier access to these important tools for farmers must be provided,” he added.
TJ Maher highlighted the opportunity that the drafting of the SI for the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation provides to minimise the impact of the new requirements on farmers when sourcing veterinary medicinal products, maintain all current stakeholders in the supply chain and broaden product ranges they offer while ensuring all veterinary medicinal products are prescribed and used correctly and responsibly.
According to the IFA for this to be achieved several key areas must be addressed. These were put to the Department of Agriculture during the meeting yesterday. Measure to be addressed include:
- 12-month validity period for prescriptions for products other than antibiotics.
- Consultant vet prescribing for antiparasitic products is important but the ‘consultant vets’ facilitated to prescribe must be vets who are actively practising as veterinary practitioners for farm animals in Ireland. Provide a simplified prescribing system for the Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP) associated with the herd to reduce costs for farmers in sourcing prescriptions.
- The Prescription Only Medicine Exempt [POM(E)] category must be maintained to minimise the prescription requirement to purchase veterinary medicines for farmers and ensure Veterinary Pharmacies continue to play an active role in the provision of advice to farmers and supply of veterinary medicines.
- Provide for Licensed Merchants and Co-ops to supply POM(E) vaccines under prescription.
- Provide for consultant vets to prescribe POM(E) vaccines under a schedule similar to the prescribing process provided for antiparasitic products
“The proposals put forward by IFA ensure the impact of the new regulations would be kept to a minimum on farmers, ensures all current actors in the sale supply and prescribing of veterinary medicines remain actively involved in the process while meeting our obligations under the EU Veterinary Medicine Regulation which is the driving force behind this issue,” TJ Maher said.
He said it is now up to the Minister and his officials to ensure that the views of the IFA are considered and reflected in the SI for Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations.
