New veterinary medicines rules will put small independent traders out of business, minister warned

Over-the-counter antiparasitic remedies used on farms to treat cattle for conditions such as worms, fluke and lice to become prescription only from next month

Move under the new Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Act 2023 would deem all antiparasitic veterinary drugs to be prescription only.

A range of veterinary medicines, currently available over the counter, will become prescription only from September 1.

But agriculture minister Martin Heydon has been urged to postpone the implementation of the new regulations.