Mail-order animal medicines to be allowed
Farmers will be able to obtain veterinary medicines via mail order
under plans |
Updated plans (PDF 510K) to allow limited advertising of veterinary
prescription medicines and mail order supplies have been published.
Earlier this year, the Veterinary Medicines
Directorate undertook public
consultation on a proposed revision of animal medicines legislation that
would have outlawed mail order delivery of animal medicines that could
only be sold or supplied on prescription by veterinary surgeons, pharmacists
or other qualified persons.
Advertising of prescription-only animal medicines would also have been
restricted to veterinarians and pharmacists, effectively prohibiting
any form of advertising to professional owners and keepers of animals,
such as farmers.
Having considered responses to the consultation, the VMD has now decided
to allow “advertising of an informative and educational nature” to
professional owners and keepers. This will allow pharmaceutical manufacturers
to provide information about animal diseases, their symptoms and prevention
marked with the name of the company that has provided the information
and what medicines they make.
In addition, the VMD has decided to replace an outright prohibition on
mail-order selling of prescription-only animal medicines with a requirement
that anyone supplying such products by distance selling must have complied
with all appropriate professional and legal requirements. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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