VMD Information Hub
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-19)

This is the Hub for all the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's communications on current and future regulatory changes.

VMD Information Hub

This is the Hub for all the Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s communications on current and future regulatory changes.

You can sign up to receive email alerts (https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?link=/government/organisations/veterinary-medicines-directorate) for all our news and announcements through GOV.UK to make sure you get the latest information as soon as it becomes available. In addition to this we have a mailing list for those in your organisation only interested in receiving updates made to the Hub and other regulatory related information. To register email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Supply of Veterinary Medicines to Northern Ireland from 1 January 2026

New rules governing the distribution of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland will apply from 1 January 2026.

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

This paper sets out progress in safeguarding the ongoing supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland, and the steps that the Government will take to support this.

The following guidance accompanies the Paper and provides further technical guidance on supplying veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland:
- Guidance for Marketing Authorisation holders (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supplying-veterinary-medicines-to-northern-ireland) - updated October 2025
- Guidance for Wholesalers / Retailers (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wholesaler-and-retailer-supply-of-veterinary-medicines-to-northern-ireland-from-2026)
- Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/veterinary-medicine-health-situation-scheme) - updated October 2025
- Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/veterinary-medicines-internal-market-scheme) - updated October 2025
- Northern Ireland Veterinary Medicines Supplementary guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/northern-ireland-veterinary-medicines-supplementary-guidance) - added November 2025
- Changes to veterinary medicine supply in Northern Ireland webinar recordings (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/changes-to-veterinary-medicine-supply-in-northern-ireland-webinar-recordings) - added December 2025
We welcome your feedback, please send your comments to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Great Britain legislation now in force

The Veterinary Medicines (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2024, which amend the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 in respect of Great Britain, are now in force.

You can find the legislation here: The Veterinary Medicines (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk) (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/567/introduction/made).

The Regulations contain transitional provisions for certain requirements, set out in Part 10 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/567/part/10/made), for which we have created an explainer which you can find in the table below.

We have published updated guidance documents to reflect the amendments introduced by the new Regulations, which can be found on our collection page Veterinary Medicines Guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/veterinary-medicines-guidance-notes-vmgns).

If you have any questions about the new Regulations or feedback on the guidance, please contact us at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Authorisation requirements

As a result of the mitigations put in place in February 2021 (set out below), many of the changes introduced by the amended Regulations to veterinary medicine approval processes are already implemented.

From 17 May 2024, the following additional changes relevant to Marketing Authorisation Holders take effect:

Renewals

Marketing Authorisations are no longer subject to renewal and are valid indefinitely. For those Marketing Authorisations that were due to be renewed after 17 May further renewal applications will not be required. Exceptional MAs continue to be required to be reassessed annually.

Marketing Authorisations for Parallel Import (MAPI)

MAPIs are no longer provided for in the amended Regulations. Existing authorisations remain in effect for the UK, however applications for new MAPIs will not be accepted.

Authorisation application fees

For applications validated after 17 May the amended fees set out in Great Britain and Northern Ireland will apply. For all applications you will be invoiced based on the legislation in force on the date of invoicing.

Labelling for authorised veterinary medicines

From 29 April new labelling requirements are in effect. More information can be found in the Product Information Template guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-information-templates-for-veterinary-medicines-spc-and-qrd-text).

Reporting supply issues

From 17 May, MA holders are obliged to report any identified supply problems as soon as reasonably practical. To do so, email a completed supply issue report form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-a-supply-problem-with-a-veterinary-medicine) to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Explainers to accompany the Great Britain changes