Concerns are mounting as the grace period for post-Brexit regulations regarding veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland is set to end. Starting on January 1, 2026, all veterinary medicines supplied from Great Britain must comply with European Union rules. This follows trade agreements that treat Northern Ireland as part of the EU for regulatory purposes, despite its status as part of the United Kingdom.
Veterinary Community Expresses Alarm
During a recent meeting of Stormont’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, veterinarians expressed significant unease about the impending changes. Mark Little, secretary of the North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA) and a past president, highlighted the uncertainty surrounding which products will continue to be available. He stated that starting January 1, any medicines authorized in Great Britain must meet EU regulatory standards, leaving many veterinarians in the dark.
Little noted that only three pharmaceutical companies have disclosed their plans regarding product availability. One of these companies has indicated it will maintain normal supply levels, while the others have announced plans to discontinue or alter the size of their offerings. “This amounts to between 30% to 40% of their stock keeping units being withdrawn,” he said. “These early signals already exceed the UK Government’s modelling, which assumed minimal product loss.”
The uncertainty is compounded by the fact that many veterinary professionals remain uninformed about the future of their supplies. “As vets on the ground, we’re sitting here at the end of November, and we still don’t know what is going to happen,” Little added.
Potential Impacts on Animal Health
Although the UK Government has implemented two schemes to facilitate the continued supply of veterinary medicines, concerns persist among veterinarians. Little cautioned that these initiatives may be impractical and could impose significant liabilities on practitioners. “The situation is currently stable, but we worry about a gradual deterioration throughout 2026, including rising costs and reduced choices for first-line medicines,” he stated.
Veterinary professionals are particularly concerned about how changes in product availability could affect treatment options. “Reduced choices and differing pack sizes may force veterinarians to acquire more medicine than necessary, which could contribute to increased antimicrobial resistance,” Little explained.
Kirsten Dunbar, president of NIVA, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for clear communication and guidance. “There is a lot of uncertainty around confidence, costs, and communication,” she said. She pointed to the discontinuation of a lice treatment for horses, leaving veterinarians with no specific alternatives for such cases.
Dunbar called for more user-friendly guidance to be issued from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). “There has been no direct communication with veterinary surgeons, farmers, or pet owners,” she noted. “We are still awaiting long-promised webinars that were supposed to provide essential information.”
To address these challenges, NIVA advocates for the creation of clear operational guidance tailored specifically to Northern Ireland. This would aid veterinarians, farmers, horse owners, and pet owners in preparing for the significant regulatory changes ahead.
The next twelve months promise to be critical for animal health in Northern Ireland, with risks and uncertainties surrounding the supply of veterinary medicines looming large. As the deadline approaches, the veterinary community continues to seek clarity and support from government agencies to navigate this complex landscape.
