Following Charlie McConalogue's, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, signing of Statutory Instrument (SI) 462/2024 “Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations 2024” into law on September 12th, 2024, anyone seeking to use antimicrobial and antiparasitic products will require a prescription from a veterinary professional from 2025.
This will be mandatory from 13th January 2025 and from this date all veterinary medicinal products (with the exception of antiparasitics) will be required to be prescribed and dispensed using the national veterinary prescription system (NVPS). The requirement for a prescription for antiparasitics will commence on 9th June 2025. After this date, all veterinary medicinal products must be prescribed using the NVPS.
This SI is drafted in accordance with the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Act 2023 which provides the Minister with powers to make Regulations covered within EU Regulation 2019/6 that may be determined by national law. The SI aims to address antimicrobial and antiparasitic resistance by ensuring prudent use of Veterinary medicinal products.
The SI provides for the introduction of a mandatory electronic national veterinary prescription system (NVPS). The NVPS will provide greater oversight of prescribing and use of veterinary medicinal products in line with our commitments under Article 57 of The Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/6).
Copies of the Statutory Instrument can be found at S.I. No. 462/2024 - Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations 2024 (irishstatutebook.ie) and the operation of the NVPS, can found in the Q&A on gov.ie. Supplementary queries can be emailed to NVPS@agriculture.gov.ie.
