ACCESS to competitively priced vaccines is a key component of reducing the necessity to use antibiotics on farms, according to IFA Animal National Health Chairperson TJ Maher.

His comments comes as the drafting of the SI [statutory instrument] for the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations [VMPR] is coming to a crucial stage.

TJ Maher said that the drafting of the SI for the VMPR provided a real opportunity to minimise the impact of the new regulatory requirements on farmers in sourcing veterinary medicinal products.

If the SI was done properly it would also help to maintain all current stakeholders in the supply chain and broaden the product ranges they can offer, he said.

This could also be done to ensure all veterinary medicinal products are prescribed and used ‘appropriately and responsibly’, said the IFA Animal Health Rep.

TJ Maher added that from the outset. IFA had identified the importance of maintaining an active role for all current stakeholders in the prescribing and supplying of veterinary medicines for farmers including private veterinary practitioners, licensed merchants and co-ops and veterinary pharmacies.

“Implementing the requirements of the EU Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation 2019/6 will lead to an additional burden on farmers in sourcing veterinary medicines, in particular antiparasitic products. This must be kept to an absolute minimum.

However, TJ Maher said in order to achieve this IFA has identified a number of key areas that must be addressed which were put to the Department of Agriculture at yesterday’s meeting, including:

■ A 12-month validity period for prescriptions for products other than antibiotics.

■ Consultant vet prescribing for antiparasitic products is important but the ‘consultant vets’ facilitated to prescribe must be vets who are actively practising as practitioners for farm animals in Ireland

■ Provide a simplified prescribing system for the Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP) associated with the herd to reduce costs for farmers in sourcing prescriptions

■ The Prescription Only Medicine Exempt [POM(E)] category must be maintained to minimise the prescription requirement to purchase veterinary medicines for farmers and ensure Veterinary Pharmacies continue to play an active role in the provision of advice to farmers and supply of veterinary medicines.

■ Provide for licensed merchants and co-ops to supply POM(E) vaccines under prescription.

Pictured: IFA Animal National Health Chairperson TJ Maher.