Vet practice & suppliers
For vets, vet nurses, practice staff, suitable qualified persons, wholesalers, retailers and dispensers
Monthly Medicines Update
Get the latest information about new marketing authorisations and changes to existing authorisations that relate to the safe use of the product.
Product Information Database
Our Product Information Database is your primary resource for the most current information about all veterinary medicines authorised in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
As product details change we immediately update the Summary of Product Characteristics and label text here. However, it may take up to 12 months for changes to appear on marketed packaging.
Products are authorised separately in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Authorisations may be aligned if they are the same product held by the same authorisation holder.
Product supply and the Special Import Scheme
If a suitable veterinary or human medicine authorised in your territory (GB or NI) is not available then vets can use the prescribing cascade to source medicines authorised elsewhere in the world. This is importing, and you cannot do this without a certificate from the VMD.
Learn more about:
- authorisation territories
- the prescribing cascade
- importing and the Special Import Scheme
- FAQs on the Special Import Scheme
- helping us to develop a new import service
Pharmaceuticals in the Environment cross-government group
The Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PiE) Group is a UK cross-government platform to enable discussion and knowledge exchange relating to PiE from human, veterinary and, where there is cross over, agricultural and non-agricultural sources.
At our first meeting, held in April 2023, we agreed our purpose – to develop a co-ordinated strategy to reduce the impacts of pharmaceuticals on the environment (biodiversity) and human health. We also identified our first priority area, which is to gain a better understanding of the potential sources of fipronil and imidacloprid levels detected in UK surface waters and to work towards reducing these levels.
Adverse events and pharmacovigilance
Vets are one the of the most at risk users of veterinary medicines, particularly from needlestick injuries. Vets are also likely to witness or be informed of adverse events occurring in animals or their owners.
Veterinary staff can provide the VMD or the Marketing Authorisation Holder with crucial clinical information when reporting adverse events and this contributes to pharmacovigilance processes to ensure the safety and efficacy of veterinary medicines.
Enforcement
We meet our aims through proportionate risk-based regulation and enforcement. Our primary approach is through education to ensure those we regulate have the information they need.
We do take robust action when needed, which can result in prosecution for the most serious cases. We receive information (unverified and unevaluated data) and intelligence (evaluated data) from a range of sources such as the pharmaceutical industry, veterinarians, general public and other enforcement partners, such as the Police and Border Force.
Find out how prescribers can help educate their clients about prescription misuse and fraud.
VMD Training Centre
We offer training opportunities and work closely with other organisations to create educational content about a range of topics.
Find out more about our courses for veterinary dispensary managers and for wholesale qualified persons. We have collaborated with the RCVS to offer a FREE course on managing veterinary medicines.
Equine Anthelmintic Resistance
Anthelmintic resistant parasites are present on most - if not all - equine yards, and anthelmintic resistance is becoming more widespread and of greater significance.
We are actively involved in promoting responsible use. Find out more about how we are working with the equine industry to promote a consistent approach to parasite control.
Also, find out about the pan-industry group CANTER - Controlling ANTiparasitic resistance in Equines Responsibly - and the many organisations contributing to its development.
Share information with your practice and clients
Here is a collection of downloads or links to useful information - share these today!
Advice for owners buying medicines online
Help your clients source authorised medicines from legal sellers.
This poster shows how to identify if a product has an authorisation and how to spot it's legal category. It also explains how to avoid breaking the law when buying online. Using our list of accredited retailers is a safer option.
How to report and what to report
Download and print out this poster to remind staff how to identify an adverse event and how to report it.
It is important to report, even if:
- the side effects are already listed in the product leaflet
- you're not sure if it was related to the product
- there may have been environmental impacts
- there were issues with residues
Keep your controlled drugs and your records safe
Read our blog on Safe Management for Controlled Drugs.
Veterinary practice break-ins are more common than you might think. In many cases, controlled drugs (CDs) are stolen.
Police forces across the country regularly report these incidents. So what can you do to make sure you don’t fall victim?
Guidance on controlled drug disposal
The date of destruction and the quantity destroyed must be recorded in the CD register and signed by a witness.
Our guidance explains who witnesses can be and examples of where a vet would be considered "independent" provided certain condition are met. We also include a suggested procedure for independent vet witnessing.
Useful text to include on or with prescriptions
To help make your clients aware of their responsibilities when sourcing and buying prescription medicines, you may wish to include this text on the back of your prescriptions or as a separate sheet to share with them.
It covers prescription fraud offences, information about why prescriptions are needed, its validity, repeat use, and advice for buying online.