Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has been called on to ensure that rules on the prescription and sale of veterinary medicines are aligned north and south of the border.
From next year on, EU regulations will mean that products that previously did not require a prescription (such as antiparasitics) will require prescriptions from vets.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is calling on the minister to resolve the issue before then.
The fact that these products will become prescription-only products must not impact on how farmers have access to them or the competitive supply of them.
Pat Farrell, the IFA’s animal health chairman, noted that there is scope in the EU regulation – and in particular in the context of Brexit and the alignment of Northern Ireland and the Republic on animal health issues – to address the issue.
“The regulation provides for suitably qualified persons other than veterinary practitioners to prescribe certain products and this must be availed of to align access for farmers north and south,” Farrell highlighted.
He argued that the “unique situation on the island must be recognised”.
It’s not acceptable for the department to bury its head in the sand on this issue and blame the EU.
“This has come about because of the department’s refusal to address the issue at the drafting stage of the regulation,” he claimed.
“Licensed merchant stores and veterinary pharmacies are key service providers to farmers. These businesses and the services they provide is under threat from this regulation if it’s allowed to proceed in its current format,” he argued.
This issue will come up for discussion at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine this evening at 6:30pm.