Only intramammaries will become ‘prescription only’ medicines

CURRENT off-prescription veterinary medicines will not have to be reclassified as prescription only, according to the Department of Agriculture and Food’s interpretation of the criteria for exempting certain medicines from the EU general requirement that all veterinary medicines for food producing animals be supplied only on the basis of prescriptions.

Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan said farmers will continue to get off-prescription medicines on the same basis as at present, and it will not now be necessary to amend regulations to extend the range of prescribers.

Minister Coughlan also pointed out that she signed regulations into law last November which include the removal of mandatory farm visit requirements for vets prior to writing a prescription, the extension of the life of a prescription from 31 days to six months, and the requirement that vets must issue a written prescription, and indicate at least two products, if a suitable alternative is available.