The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI), the statutory body responsible for the regulation and management of the practise of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in the state, will include definitions of terms contained in the EU Veterinary Medicine Regulations 2019/6 in the VCI Code of Professional Conduct.

The Veterinary Council of Ireland as an independent statutory body acting in the best interests of animal health and welfare and public health, is engaging with stakeholders in considering the definition of various terms contained in the EU Veterinary Medicine Regulations 2019/6. The EU Veterinary Medicine Regulations 2019/6 coming into force in January 2022, will restrict the use of veterinary medicines, antibiotics and antimicrobials in food producing animals, in the interest of public health and animal health and welfare.

The new regulation is being brought in to combat the ongoing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which the World Health Organisation has declared a top 10 global public health threat. The main drivers of AMR are the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials. Antimicrobial resistant organisms are commonly introduced to humans via the food supply chain, resulting from the overuse of antimicrobials/antibiotics with animals. AMR demands the reservation of antimicrobials/antibiotics for use in limited circumstances.

Veterinary Practitioners can only prescribe and dispense prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics, to animals that are under their care. An animal is considered to be under the care of a vet when specific requirements are satisfied, to ensure that the prescribing vet has sufficient knowledge of the animal and their environment to ensure safe and informed prescribing, in the interests of animal welfare and public health.

The Veterinary Council regulates veterinary practitioners in Ireland, the persons who issue veterinary medicine prescriptions. Further to the new EU regulations, additional veterinary medicines will require a prescription from a veterinary practitioner. Following the Health Products Regulatory Authority Report of the Task Force on the method of supply of antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products that are intended for food-producing species of December 2019, noting increasing resistance in parasites in Ireland, it is recommended that antiparasitic medicinal products will now require a veterinary prescription from 2022 to protect the efficacy of the antiparasitic medicinal products.

The Veterinary Council is working with all relevant stakeholders on this issue, and takes its responsibility in the area of the regulation of veterinary medicines very seriously. All veterinary practitioners in Ireland are bound by the Veterinary Council’s Code of Professional Conduct, which sets out the specific requirements which must be satisfied in order to discharge the privilege of prescribing veterinary medicines. The VCI Code of Professional Conduct is currently being updated, with the last substantial review taking place in 2010.

Niamh Muldoon, CEO and Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Ireland said,

“The EU Veterinary Medicine Regulations 2019/6, which come into force in January 2022, will present a positive step forward in the fight against AMR, which is one of the biggest threats facing humans and animals. The Veterinary Council understands the responsibility of the role it will play in this area, as the regulator of veterinary practitioners in Ireland. The Council has clear and strict rules in place when it comes to the prescription of veterinary medicines, and will continue to ensure that veterinary practitioners are operating at the highest ethical standards through education and enforcement in this area.

The Council will work with all relevant stakeholders in the lead up to these regulations coming into force. Acknowledging the challenges that the regulations and related changes pose, the Council will continue to engage with stakeholders to support the practical implementation”.

In 2020, The Veterinary Council inspected 86 Veterinary Practice Premises in association with the VCI Certificate of Suitability, a Certificate required to be held by each veterinary practice in Ireland.

In 2020, The Veterinary Council, following disciplinary action relating to veterinary medicines matters, imposed a sanction of a period of suspension from practise on 4 veterinary practitioners, which were then confirmed by the High Court. Some disciplinary matters considered for sanction by the Veterinary Council in 2020 includes the prescribing of animal remedies to animals which were not under the care of the vet.