Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 324: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will make provision in forthcoming legislation being introduced to give effect to EU Directive 2004/18 for suitably qualified persons, such as pharmacists and licensed merchants, in addition to vets, to be allowed write prescriptions for routine husbandry management drugs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7777/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I assume the Deputy is referring to Directive 2004/28. I should make clear that a package of changes, the principles of which were announced by my predecessor a year ago, are not designed to implement this directive in Ireland. Rather, they are designed to address a number of issues and problems identified with the existing national regime. In particular they serve to make the prescribing regime more workable and effective and to extend the range of outlets which may supply on foot of a prescription.

Implementation of Directive 2004/28 will involve a number of changes in national legislation and procedures, many of which are designed to improve the availability of veterinary treatments. Preliminary work on this transposition exercise has begun in my Department. This exercise also involves liaison with the Irish Medicines Board and, in due course, consultation with other stakeholders.

In the meantime, a number of aspects relating to implementation of the directive remain to be fully resolved at EU level, including whether certain categories of medicines will be exempted from the mandatory prescription requirement. The deadline for completion of this latter exercise is 1 January 2007 and, in the interim, existing national distribution routes, which include provision for the availability of products "off-prescription", will remain in place. It is premature to address the issue of extending the categories of those who would be allowed to issue prescriptions for routine husbandry management drugs until these other issues are resolved at EU level.