VMD to review Veterinary Medicines Regulations
The VMD is assessing the efficiency of the legislation.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has called for veterinary stakeholders to share evidence on the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021.
It comes as the agency examines the structure of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, assessing its efficiency in protecting animal and public health and the wider environment.
The VMR legislate the UK's veterinary medicines and medicated feeds, including their manufacture, advertising, supply, possession and administration. Under the Windsor Framework, there is separate legislation in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland.
The review hopes to evaluate how well it is meeting these goals, while also avoiding regulatory burden where possible. The VMD will consider where restructuring or consolidation will improve the clarity of VMR legislation and whether it can be better implemented.
The regulations originated from EU legislation, before it was transposed into UK law.
Under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021, the UK has primary powers to amend the legislation where necessary. The UK also has a statutory obligation to assess the legislation and its impact at least once every five years.
The VMR were last amended by the Veterinary Medicines (Amendment, etc.) Regulations 2024.
To help inform the investigation, the VMD has asked that stakeholders share their views and experiences of the VMR. Where possible, the responses should include specific examples.
Although anyone can respond to the inquiry, the VMD has particularly welcomed responses from those involved with veterinary medicines, as well as veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and other suitably qualified persons. Farmers, professional animal keepers and pet owners are also invited to share evidence.
Responses can be submitted through the VMD's Citizen Space platform, or sent by email to vmr@vmd.gov.uk using the relevant call for evidence documents.
The call for evidence will close at 23:59 on 26 September 2025.
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