James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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509. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the proposed introduction of veterinary regulation 2019/6 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35622/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the findings of a 2019 Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) Expert Task Force Report, antiparasitic veterinary medicines no longer meet exemption criteria in EU law which permits them to be supplied without a veterinary prescription. Therefore, from 28th January 2022, antiparasitic veterinary medicines will require a veterinary prescription before they can be supplied.

All current suppliers of antiparasitic veterinary medicines will continue to be legally permitted to supply these medicines post-January 2022. The Department is actively working with all stakeholders to sustain a competitive market for the supply of these products. The ambition is to ensure Irish farmers are empowered to purchase medicines from their supplier of choice.

Initiatives such as the development of a National Veterinary Prescribing System (NVPS) will help deliver on this ambition. The NVPS will result in a prescription being made available to a farmer by choice of email, text or in paper. Farmers can then engage with Licensed Merchants, veterinary pharmacists or their veterinary practitioner in getting their prescription dispensed.

There is a derogation in the Regulation, which allows professionals other than veterinarians to issue veterinary prescriptions, in limited circumstances, but only if this was provided for in a Member State's national legislation prior to Regulation 2019/6 coming into force in January 2019.

The Department has been clear in its understanding of this derogation but, on foot on significant concerns expressed by multiple stakeholders, advice was sought on the matter from the Office of the Attorney General. That advice was recently received and confirms that only registered veterinary practitioners are permitted under Irish and EU law to issue veterinary prescriptions. As such, it not open for Ireland to permit Responsible Persons or pharmacists to issue veterinary prescriptions.

The Department is fully committed to working with all stakeholders in considering how best to implement the new EU Regulations on veterinary medicinal products. There is a dedicated email address allowing communications on the new Regulation: vetmedregs@agricuIture.gov.ie.