Prescription plea to Minister

PHARMACISTS, agricultural co-ops and merchants, agricultural graduates and animal health companies have joined farmers in asking Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to allow persons other than vets to prescribe certain animal remedies.

Eight organisations asked the Minister to use her discretion on who can write a veterinary prescription, as permitted by EU regulations on usage of animal medicines.

The animal remedies concerned include wormers, lice control, sheep dip, fluid replacement therapy, vitamins, minerals and certain vaccines.