Contact VMD
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-03)

How to contact the VMD for specific services or enquiries.

About contacting the VMD

Please review our guidance pages before considering submitting an enquiry. Below are links to guidance about common questions, including those not within our remit.

Please do not call us as the best way to ensure you get a full response, which can be used for future reference, is by email. If you do send an email please include keywords in the subject line to help us direct your query.

If you cannot find the information you need in the guidance you can email the team contacts listed here or on the subject page, or xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

We aim to respond to general enquiries, complaints and Freedom of Information requests within 20 working days, or sooner where possible.

Sometimes we may need longer to respond, for example if you are asking for complex information or we need to involve a third party. If we are unable to respond within this timescale, we will let you know.

We publish our monthly performance against our service standard on our webpage General Enquiries Service Standard Data (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/general-enquiries-service-standard-data).

We have a mailing list for those in your organisation interested in receiving updates to regulatory related information. To register email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Media enquiries

Please direct any media enquiries related to the work of the VMD to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Importing and Exporting

Only authorised persons can import or export veterinary medicines. The special import, export, and batch release schemes are all digital services and we only deal with queries by email. Please do not call us about matters in relation to any of these schemes:
- xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
Online services:

The Special Import Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-certificate-to-import-a-veterinary-medicine-into-the-uk) - please note a new service was launched in July 2024 so you may need to re register. Refer to our news item; Further changes to our special imports digital service (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-changes-to-our-special-imports-digital-service).

Export certificates (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-drugs-and-medicines-special-rules)

Managing your Marketing Authorisations and submitting applications
- Guidance about Marketing Authorisations (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/marketing-authorisations-for-veterinary-medicines)
Application management is a digital service and we only deal with queries by email to ensure the security and confidentiality of commercial information. xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

If you are a Marketing Authorisation holder, you can report a current or foreseen UK supply problem (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-a-supply-problem-with-a-veterinary-medicine) with one of your medicines.

Medicines record keeping
- Guidance on Record keeping (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/record-keeping-requirements-for-veterinary-medicines) when supplying or using a veterinary medicine, including horses
Paying an invoice, including residues surveillance
- Payment details can be found on the Application fees (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/application-fees-for-animal-medicines) page which includes fees charged for specific activities. The charges for residues surveillance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/residues-surveillance) are set out in GB legislation.
Premises registered or certified by VMD

How to register Veterinary Practices (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/registration-and-inspection-of-veterinary-practice-premises) and common issues we find during inspections

How to legally run a Wholesale Dealer (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-veterinary-medicine-wholesale-dealers-authorisation-wda) business and find a full list of registered wholesale dealers

How to apply for approval of Retailer premises (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appy-for-a-suitably-qualified-persons-sqp-retailer-premises) for a Suitably Qualified Person and find a full list of registered SQP Retailer Premises

The VMD maintain a Register of Online Retailers of veterinary medicines. All internet retailers and online suppliers must now be registered with the VMD. Refer to Sell veterinary medicines on the internet (http://Sell%20veterinary%20medicines%20on%20the%20internet%20-%20GOV.UK%20(www.gov.uk))

Veterinary Medicines Registers: manufacturing and distribution (http://Veterinary%20Medicines%20Registers:%20manufacturing%20and%20distribution%20-%20GOV.UK%20(www.gov.uk))

Prescriptions and dispensing

Guidance for vets, pharmacists and Suitably Qualified Persons (SQP) on General prescribing queries (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/retail-of-veterinary-medicines)

For guidance on the prescribing and use of CBD, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Record keeping, storage and disposal of Controlled Drugs
- Information on prescribing, supplying, storage and disposal of Controlled drugs (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/controlled-drugs-veterinary-medicines) and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations as they relate to veterinary medicines
Report an adverse reaction to veterinary medicine

Anyone can report an unexpected reaction to an animal medicine, even if it is a listed known possible side effect. You can also report it if you suspect the veterinary medicines hasn’t worked. You can report a problem (https://www.gov.uk/report-veterinary-medicine-problem) by:
- telling your vet
- contacting the marketing authorisation holder, or the holder’s local representative - their contact details are on the leaflet that came with the medicine
Sales (legal and illegal) of veterinary medicines

To check whether a veterinary medicine is legal read the guidance: Legal controls on veterinary medicines (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/legal-controls-on-veterinary-medicines)

To check if a veterinary medicine is authorised in the UK, go to our Product Information Database (https://www.gov.uk/check-animal-medicine-licensed)

How to Report illegal medicine sales (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-illegal-animal-medicines) and find information about how we deal with these reports

Guidance on the legal requirements for the sale of veterinary medicines on the internet and the VMD Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sell-veterinary-medicines-on-the-internet)

Guidance on the Retail of medicines (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/retail-of-veterinary-medicines)

Guidance on Record keeping and storage of Controlled Drugs (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/controlled-drugs-veterinary-medicines)

How to Report an animal product (other than a medicine) being marketed as a medicine (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-an-animal-product-being-marketed-as-a-medicine)

VMD online services
- Technical service helpdesk (https://support.vmd.gov.uk/login)
We cannot help with queries relating to:

Complaints about a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse. The VMD does not deal with complaints about how your animal has been treated, including what products were used and costs. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is the registration body for veterinary surgeons and nurses. See further information on their Code of Conduct (https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/) and about how to raise a concern (https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/)
- Information is available from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA):
- Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain: Overview (https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain)
- Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: Overview (https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad)
Individual clinical advice, as the specific treatment of an animal is best determined by the veterinary professional under whose care they fall. For advice on specific cases, general product advice or when considering off-label use, we advise veterinary professionals to contact the market authorisation holder

Pet food/Animal feed - Refer to the Food Standard Agency (https://www.food.gov.uk/)

Regulatory decisions made by other jurisdictions or their regulatory processes. Please refer to the relevant agency for the jurisdiction in each country

Animal health - Refer to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency)

Reporting a problem with a microchip. You can report an unexpected reaction to a microchip implantation (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implantation-of-cat-and-dog-microchips) to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
- Contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) with any queries to do with a reaction or problem with a microchip.
If you’re not sure which Defra department you need, go to Contact Defra - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-defra)

Speak to someone at the VMD

The best way to contact us is by email at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

If you would like to speak to someone you can ask for a call back in your email or use the call back request form (https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/7289/request-a-call-back), however you may receive an email response if we can fully address your enquiry via email, for example we may want to provide links to guidance.

If you need support with completing the call back request form, you can call xx-xxxx-xxxx between 9:30am and 4pm Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays. Please note, when calling the VMD, this is not a switchboard service, the call handler will not be a specialist, and will not be able to transfer your call.

The following are digital services, so all enquiries are dealt with via email and the call-back service is not available:
- special import certificates (not related to technical website issues (https://support.vmd.gov.uk/login))
- export certificates
- batch release schemes
- authorisation applications