Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulatory regime regarding the sale of dosing products for animals and the points of sale to obtain such products by farmers; if there has been a recent change by which such products can only be obtained from a veterinary practice; and if he has considered the additional burden and cost this may place on farmers obtaining such dosing products for their animals. [48285/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The routes of sale, including the requirement for a prescription for the dispensing of animal preventative remedies such as worm and fluke doses, are governed by SI No. 786 of 2007 European Communities (Animal Remedies) (No. 2) Regulations 2007 and are determined by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). There have been no recent changes to the current legislation.

However, new Regulations on Veterinary Medicinal Products (VMP) and medicated feed were adopted by the European Council on Nov 26^th, 2018 and are due to come into effect from January 28^th2022. The objectives of the new legislation are to provide for a modern, innovative and fit-for-purpose legal framework on VMPs, strengthen the EU action to fight antimicrobial resistance and ensure economically-viable production of safe medicated feed, as well as to foster innovation for further veterinary product development.

My Department is responsible for the transposition of the new Regulations into Irish Law and is currently developing a public consultation process to be undertaken in 2020 which will provide opportunities for submissions in a number of key areas.