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Under proposals from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products will require a prescription from 2022 onwards.
These products are frequently used to treat fluke, worms and scab, particularly on sheep farms but also beef and dairy farms, and can be supplied by vets, pharmacists or licensed merchants.
However, HPRA set up a taskforce to review the method of their supply in light of new EU animal health rules that will come into force on January 2022. The taskforce published its report in October 2019 and it was endorsed by HPRA earlier this month.
Excemption
Dosing products are currently exempt from requiring a prescription. However, the report found a number of criteria for the derogation were not met, including no risk of resistance developing.
Vets, pharmacists and licensed merchants will be able to continue stocking the doses but farmers will require a veterinary prescription to purchase them from January 2022 onwards.
HPRA has invited the views of stakeholders on the time needed to give effect to the changes. It stressed the consultation was limited to the practical aspects of implementing the report’s findings and not the decision itself.
The consultation closes on 28 February 2020, with the next step in implementing labelling and packaging changes expected by 31 March 2020.
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