THE supply of up to 30% of veterinary medicine in Northern Ireland remains in doubt after 2025, with the North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA) raising “significant concerns and uncertainty”.
Under the Windsor Framework, which tweaked post-Brexit trading rules, the supply of human medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland was guaranteed.
This did not cover veterinary medicines, with a three-year-grace period due to expire after December 2025.
In a statement on Thursday, NIVA said that the agricultural and veterinary sector were worried about the effect any break in supply would have on animal and human health and welfare.
“After December 2025, it is estimated that the supply of up to 30% of veterinary medicines will be affected, impacting all veterinary sectors in NI,” they said.
Adding that a broadly supported motion had been passed in Stormont acknowledging the “deep concern” about obtaining medicines after 2025, NIVA welcomed the efforts being made by the Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir to find a solution.
NIVA welcomed the British government’s commitment to re-establishing the Veterinary Medicines Working Group, encouraging that it reconvene as early as possible to start “positive and constructive engagement” with the EU Commission.
Responding to the concerns, a UK Cabinet Office Spokesperson said: “We continue to pursue a permanent solution to maintaining access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland beyond 2025.
“In doing this we engage extensively with industry and are committed to reestablishing the Veterinary Medicines Working Group.”
