EU wants 95% of medicines POM

SEVERE restrictions have been proposed by the European Commission on veterinary medicines, in negotiations with the Irish Department of Agriculture on the Prescription Only Medicines (POM) Directive.

Sources in the Department have confirmed the Commission wants all medicines with a withdrawal period and all injectables to be prescription only.

The Commission proposes that only medicines which do not present a risk to human or animal health, even if administered without veterinary prescription, can be supplied without a prescription.