Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-31)

From 1 January 2026 the Government is introducing two routes for sourcing medicines in NI, the Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme and the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme.

On 19 June 2025, the government published ‘Protecting Animal Health: The Government’s Approach to Veterinary Medicines in Northern Ireland’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/veterinary-medicines-in-northern-ireland).

To ensure that the needs of animal health and welfare can continue to be met, and veterinary surgeons can continue to access the medicines they need, the Government is introducing two schemes for sourcing medicines in Northern Ireland; in accordance with the Windsor Framework, the Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme and the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme.

These two schemes will work alongside each other to ensure that Northern Ireland can continue to access the medicines they need, while ensuring compliance with the Windsor Framework.

This guidance sets out more detail on the Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme which will permit the use of suitable alternative veterinary medicine authorised in the EU where the animal or public health situation so requires. The products that will be covered by the scheme, should the situation arise, will be published later in the year.

From 1 January 2026, new arrangements for placing veterinary medicines on the Northern Ireland market will apply. These differ from those applicable to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland).

Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme

The Government is closely monitoring the expected supply of products to Northern Ireland and is intensely engaging with industry ahead of the end of 2025 and throughout 2026. Our assessment at present is that in the vast majority of cases, we expect vets, farmers and pet owners to continue to have access to the medicines they need, but that there remains a risk of disruption for a small number of critical products. Should issues arise, the Government is committed to ensuring Northern Ireland can access the veterinary medicines they need quickly.

Should the situation of animal or public health require, and cannot be sufficiently addressed by authorised medicines, the VMD may exceptionally permit the use of suitable alternative veterinary medicines from the EU through a temporary authorisation of use under the Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme. The Veterinary Medicines Health Situation Scheme provides an additional route to enable products to be available in Northern Ireland in order to address animal or public health situations. This may, for example, be a more suitable route in cases where we are seeing or expect significant shortages to the extent it could impact the health situation. This route will also be available for non-prescription products where we see or expect a need to address an animal or public health situation.

The VMD will use a variety of sources including ongoing intensive stakeholder engagement, the observed use of the Special Import Scheme as well as known discontinuations, to identify when products may need to be added to the scheme. Where we see a need for use of the scheme, including but not limited to an increase in the use of the Special Import Scheme for a particular product, VMD will consider whether this product should be added to the VMHSS. In addition, we welcome feedback from stakeholders where they have experienced or anticipate impacts on public or animal health as a result of a discontinued product. You can alert VMD to supply issues by completing the ‘Report a Supply Problem (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-a-supply-problem-with-a-veterinary-medicine)’ form. Only medicines authorised in the EU, including EU vaccines, are eligible.

Products may be subject to conditions which may include conditions relating to who can supply them and these will be specific to the product and stated on the permit that will be published. The permit will allow for the use of the product by all operators who meet the conditions; it will not be specific to a particular individual or business.

The assessment by the VMD will be based on the following criteria:
- The likely urgency or need for the product is such that inclusion will mitigate a potential animal health or public health issue, for example if there are significant concerns about potential animal suffering or around antimicrobial resistance
- An authorised product is not available in NI; in exceptional cases we may also consider where a product is authorised in Northern Ireland, but the available pack size(s) are not sufficient to address any animal or public health situation
- The VMD has sufficient information to carry out the necessary benefit: risk assessment
A permit for each product covered by this scheme will be published on Products available via the Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme (VMHSS) - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/products-available-via-the-veterinary-medicine-health-situation-scheme-vmhss) should the situation related to animal or public health arise. These products may be stocked and supplied in Northern Ireland for as long as the animal or public health situation requires.

The list of veterinary medicines will be kept under review and updated as required, with products added and removed as the health situation necessitates.

Reporting shortages

The VMD encourages vets, wholesale dealers and retailers to report (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-a-supply-problem-with-a-veterinary-medicine) instances where veterinary medicines are unavailable due to manufacturing or supply issues.

Marketing Authorisation Holders are reminded that if they are unable to supply medicines to any part of the UK, including Northern Ireland, (for example due to a product shortage or discontinuation) this must be reported to the VMD (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-a-supply-problem-with-a-veterinary-medicine) as soon as possible.

VMD will be closely monitoring the supply of veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland. We will use a variety of sources including ongoing industry engagement, the Special Import Scheme as well as known discontinuations, to identify when products might benefit from inclusion in the scheme.