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Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) Veterinary Medicines Regulations

We currently sell a number of controlled veterinary medicines. If you buy any of these, you will be required to complete a form during checkout, provide details of the animal concerned, and may be contacted by us before your order is dispatched so we can ensure the medicines will be used appropriately; this is a legal requirement and is governed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

 

For your reference, we have summarised information regarding the supply and safe use of veterinary medicines below, along with links to the VMD Product Database and quick link to the Adverse Events online form.

We hope you will find this information useful. Please contact us or the VMD directly if you have any questions relating to the safe supply, use and disposal of veterinary medicines.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate gives information on the responsibilities and safe and effective supply and use of veterinary medicines.

A full Product Information Database is also available on the VMD website. The database includes details of all veterinary medicinal products currently authorised in the UK together with a list of suspended and recently expired products. Homeopathic products are also listed.

The database can be found here: http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/ProductInformationDatabase/

If you would like to contact the VMD directly, their contact details can be found on the VMD website:http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/business/contact.aspx.

If you have a complaint relating to veterinary medicines that we have not been able to settle satisfactorily for you, please contact the VMD using the details above; please, however, do contact us in the first instance so we may be given the opportunity to resolve your issue promptly.

Adverse Events to Veterinary Medicines

You can report a suspected adverse reaction or lack of efficacy to a veterinary medicine directly to the VMD online: https://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/adversereactionreporting/

This scheme is run by the VMD's Pharmacovigilance Unit and is used to collect information from veterinary professionals and the general public on suspected adverse reactions and lack of efficacy to veterinary medicines.

The VMD collect reports on both licensed and unlicensed veterinary medicines, and human medicines used to treat animals under the cascade. The information provided can help to improve the safe and effective use of veterinary medicines.

The following basic information is needed when reporting an Adverse Event:

  • The name of the product caused the adverse reaction or lack of efficacy.
  • The animal(s) or person(s) in which the adverse reaction or lack of efficacy occured.
  • The signs observed of the adverse reaction or lack of efficacy that is suspected.
  • Contact details for the reporter of the adverse reaction or lack of efficacy.

Rules Governing the Sale of Animal Medicines

Veterinary medicinal products in the UK can only be supplied and prescribed by a Registered Qualified Person (RQP). An RQP is a qualified Veterinarian, Veterinary Pharmacist or Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) and only from premises approved by the Secretary of State.

If you would like to check our SQP status, please check the current SQP register, which can be viewed on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) website - http://vmd.defra.gov.uk/registers/sqpregister.aspx.

If you would like to check our approved premises status, please check the VMD Approved SQP Premises Register which can be found at http://vmd.defra.gov.uk/registers/

Alternatively you can ring the VMD directly on 01932 336911 to verify both our SQP and premises registrations.

Our SQP, Lisa Whitty, is registered for the supply of companion animal medicines under registration number QC30492.

To be able to supply a veterinary medicine a Suitably Qualified Person must first prescribe the product taking the following into consideration:

  • The veterinary medicinal products that are authorised for use on the species in question
  • The competence of the person who will be administering the product to the animal
  • The circumstances of the animals being treated
  • The responsible use of the medicines
  • The requirement to prescribe the minimum amount of product necessary (subject to the minimum pack size manufactured and any authority to break bulk in the regulations)

 

When prescribing a regulated product the SQP must always:

  • Be satisfied that the person who will use the product is competent to use it safely and that they are using the product for an authorised use
  • Give advice on any warnings or contra-indications on the label or package leaflet
  • Provide advice on the safe administration of the product

The SQP may only supply the product specified in that prescription and must take all reasonable steps to ensure that it is supplied to the person named in the prescription

It is a legal requirement that all SQPs who prescribe a product record the following information relating to all customer transactions. These records must be kept at the approved premises and made available on request by an inspector appointed under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations .

  • The date of supply
  • The name of the product
  • The batch number
  • The quantity being supplied
  • The name and address of the recipient and animal being treated

A copy of the code of practice detailing the rules and regulations that must be complied with is available on the VMD website: http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk

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