We have made a final extension to the temporary
relaxation of enforcement of certain provisions of the
Veterinary Medicines Regulations to 31 August 2020.
However, in view of the continuing and unique
challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have
issued statements setting out temporary VMD enforcement
policies in relation to specific obligations under the
VMR. These policies allow, in exceptional
circumstances, for relaxations concerning the temporary
change of veterinary practice and SQP retailer premises
and the arrangements for SQP remote prescribing and
authorisation of supply to be applied after 31 August
where:
- the veterinary practice premises (VPP)/SQP retailer
is located in an area where the Government has deployed
local lockdown measures; and/or
- a veterinary surgeon/SQP needs to self-isolate as
they have tested positive for the virus or due to
contact tracing
SQP retailer: temporary change of premises
Effective from 1 September 2020, the Veterinary
Medicines Directorate (VMD) will adopt the approach set
out in the attached SQP retailer:
temporary change of premises (PDF,
157KB, 2 pages) statement, which
only applies in the following circumstances:
- the SQP retailer is located in an area where the
Government has deployed local lockdown measures; and/or
- an SQP needs to self-isolate as they have tested
positive for the virus or due to contact tracing.
In practice, this means that during this period and
under these circumstances:
(a) a suitably qualified person (SQP) will be allowed
to supply veterinary medicines from temporary premises
when access to the SQP retailer premises is limited or
no longer possible; and (b) wholesale dealers will be
allowed to supply veterinary medicines to SQPs at such
temporary premises.
Veterinary practice premises: temporary change of
premises
This Veterinary
practice premises: temporary change of premises
(PDF,
209KB, 3 pages) statement sets out
the temporary relaxation of specific provisions of the
Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (VMR), which only
applies in the following circumstances:
- the veterinary practice premises is located in an
area where the Government has deployed local lockdown
measures; and/or
- a veterinary surgeon needs to self‐isolate as they
have tested positive for the virus or due to contact
tracing.
In practice, this means that during this period and
under these circumstances:
(a) veterinary surgeons will be allowed to supply
veterinary medicines from a temporary premises when
access to the VPP registered with the RCVS is limited
or no longer possible; and (b) wholesale dealers will
be allowed to supply veterinary medicines to veterinary
surgeons at such temporary premises.
SQP: prescribing and authorisation of supply
This SQP: prescribing
and authorisation of supply (PDF,
178KB, 2 pages) statement sets out
the temporary relaxation of specific provisions of the
Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (VMR), which only
applies in the following circumstances:
- the SQP retailer is located in an area where the
Government has deployed local lockdown measures; and/or
- an SQP needs to self‐isolate as they have tested
positive for the virus or due to contact tracing.
In practice, this means that during this period and
under these circumstances SQPs will be allowed to
prescribe and authorise supply remotely.
