Growing concern surrounds the impending end of the grace period for post-Brexit regulations affecting veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland. This temporary measure, which has allowed for the distribution of veterinary products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland since January 2021, will conclude on January 1, 2026. Following this date, EU rules regarding veterinary medicines will be fully enforced in the region, raising significant questions among veterinary professionals.
During a recent meeting of Stormont’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, veterinary experts expressed their unease about the uncertainty surrounding which products will remain available in Northern Ireland. Mark Little, secretary and past president of the North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA), highlighted that after January 1, 2026, medicines authorized in Great Britain cannot be supplied to Northern Ireland unless they comply with EU regulatory standards. He noted that veterinarians are currently working with “almost incomplete information,” describing the situation as one where “blinkers are on.”
The veterinary community has received preliminary information from only three pharmaceutical companies regarding their plans. One company has indicated it will continue normal supply, while the others have announced they will discontinue certain products or alter their sizes. Little stated, “That amounts to between 30 to 40% of their stock keeping units being withdrawn.” He emphasized that these early signals exceed the UK Government’s projections, which had assumed only a minimal impact on product availability.
Despite efforts by the UK Government to mitigate the situation—such as creating two schemes to facilitate the continued supply of veterinary medicines—Little expressed doubts about their practicality. He warned that these schemes could impose significant liability on veterinarians. The current stability is overshadowed by concerns that conditions may worsen throughout 2026, alongside rising costs and reduced options for essential medicines.
Veterinarians are particularly worried about the implications of decreased product choice and varying pack sizes. Little cautioned that limited options could lead to excess medicine being purchased or smaller packaging contributing to increased resistance to treatments. He stated, “The next 12 months will present significant risk and uncertainty to animal health, farming, and pet ownership due to the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland.”
The NIVA president, Kirsten Dunbar, echoed these concerns, stressing the need for clear communication and user-friendly guidance for veterinary professionals. She highlighted the discontinuation of specific products, such as a treatment for lice in horses, leaving no alternative for that purpose. Dunbar called attention to the lack of direct communication from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) with veterinary surgeons, farmers, and pet owners.
“There is nothing clear and practical for vets on the frontline,” Dunbar stated. She mentioned the anticipated webinars aimed at providing guidance, which have yet to materialize. In response to the growing need for clarity, NIVA has recommended the development of plain language operational guidance tailored for Northern Ireland. This would assist veterinarians, farmers, horse owners, and pet owners in preparing for the significant regulatory changes ahead.
As the deadline approaches, the veterinary community remains on edge, seeking more definitive information on how these changes will affect the supply of critical veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland.
