From December 1, 2025 all antiparasitic medicines for food producing animals, including horses, will become prescription only medicines.

These products will no longer be available to purchase without first having a veterinary prescription.

Why is this happening?

Antiparasitic resistance is increasing, making treatments less effective. To protect animal health, welfare and farm productivity, stricter control of antiparasitic use is needed.

From December, all pour-ons, injectables, and drenches will require a veterinary prescription.

What does this mean for farmers?

From December 1, farmers will need a veterinary prescription before buying antiparasitics.

These veterinary medicines will continue to be available from your usual suppliers - licensed retailers, co-ops, pharmacies and veterinary practices - once you have your prescription.

Farmers will receive a digital NVPS (National Veterinary Prescription System) prescription ID code on their mobile phone once your vet issues an undispensed prescription.

The prescription code can also be printed or written out.

This system makes the process simpler, faster and paper-free, while ensuring medicines availability.

Show this code at your chosen retailer when buying your antiparasitic.

What do farmers need to do before December 1?

Check your details. Make sure your herd number, name and address on your vet’s records match those on your MyAgFood account. This allows prescriptions to link up correctly.

Also, talk to your vet and or usual supplier to ensure you understand the new process to access the appropriate antiparasitic veterinary medicines.

What new provisions are in place to support farmers?

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have introduced several measures to support farmers during this change:

Request Antiparasitic Product (RAP)- an online tool that lets farmers request an antiparasitic prescription directly from their own vet or from a vet linked with a licensed retailer or co-op. Access RAP through your MyAgFood portal;
Proper Assessment Protocol (PAP)- a system where farmers provide key herd and treatment details to a vet or responsible person working in a licensed retailer. This allows a vet working with a retailer to prescribe the correct antiparasitic medicine;
Online prescription storage- electronic prescriptions, both dispensed and undispensed, will be stored on MyAgFood for easy access and record keeping;
List of comparable products: If your prescribed antiparasitic product isn’t available at the retail outlet, another comparable product may be dispensed- but only with your agreement.

These new rules aim to protect animal health and welfare, keep treatments effective and ensure farmers continue to have easy access to the products they need.

The Department will continue to work with vets, all retailers and farming groups to make the transition as smooth as possible.