The issue of changing regulations around veterinary medicines will again come up for discussion at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine tomorrow (Tuesday, March 23).

The committee has already had several meetings on the matter of the coming change to veterinary medicine regulations, which is set to see products which can currently be sold without a prescription require a prescription from a vet from 2022 on.

The committee meeting tomorrow will hear from veterinary experts and representatives of Veterinary Ireland.

The meeting begins at 6:30pm in Committee Room 2, and can be viewed through the Oireachtas TV website.

This will be the committee’s third meeting in relation to the regulation of veterinary medicines, following on from previous engagements in November and February.

Tomorrow’s meeting will be divided into two sessions. These will be 30 minutes and 90 minutes long respectively, rather than the more typical two one-hour sessions.

From 6:30pm to 7:00pm:

  • Prof. Simon More – UCD School of Veterinary Medicine;
  • Finola McCoy – Animal Health Ireland;
  • Catherine McAloon – UCD School of Veterinary Medicine.

From 7:00pm to 8:30pm:

  • Representatives from Veterinary Ireland.

Ahead of tomorrow’s meeting, committee chairperson Jackie Cahill said: “The focus for our meeting on Tuesday will be to assess the regulatory challenge and solutions which exist for all stakeholders in the sector of veterinary medicines.

“These are matters that impact hugely on the farming and agri-sector,” Cahill noted.

We look forward to hearing directly from subject matter experts Simon More, Finola McCoy and Catherine McAloon, and Veterinary Ireland, an organisation which represents veterinary surgeons.

“Tuesday’s second session with Veterinary Ireland and the ninety minute meeting will allow committee members to learn of the views, aspirations and concerns of those members,” Cahill added.