IFA to query veterinary proposals

Ireland: The chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food Johnny Brady, TD, has been asked by IFA national treasurer Padraig Walshe to invite Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan and her senior officials to explain the proposals that all veterinary medicines must be prescribed by a vet.

Mr Walshe said the proposals go way beyond what is required in the relevant EU Directive and are not justified on either food safety or animal health grounds.

The proposals would lead to an explosion in costs of preventative medicines, leading to a drop in usage with a risk to animal health and welfare, he said.