SQPs temporarily allowed to prescribe and authorise supply of veterinary medicines remotely
Enforcement of Veterinary Medicines Regulations relaxed in light of enhanced precautions required by the response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
In light of the enhanced precautions on social distancing we must take as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has relaxed the enforcement of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) to allow SQPs to prescribe and authorise supply of veterinary medicines remotely for the categories of veterinary medicines they are allowed to prescribe and supply under the VMR.
The VMD will not issue an improvement notice if there are breaches of the relevant provisions of the VMR that require SQPs to prescribe and authorise the sale of veterinary medicines in person and from certain premises.
This decision has immediate effect and will last until 31 August and then cease.
All other requirements of the VMR on the Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) as the person responsible for the prescription and supply of certain veterinary medicines continue to apply. The SQP must:
- be the person that has the conversation/consultation with the animal owner
- be the person that makes the prescribing decision
- be satisfied that the person handing over or dispatching the prescribed product is competent to do so
More information is availble on the .
Updates to this page
Published 3 April 2020Last updated 31 July 2020 + show all updates
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Phasing out COVID-19 facilitations
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Date of temporary facilitation changed to 31 July
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Temporary facilitation will last until 30 June when we will review it.
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SQPs temporarily allowed to prescribe and authorise supply of veterinary medicines remotely - Review date now 31 May
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First published.