Vol. 451 No. 8
236 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on the regulation which now precludes a veterinary surgeon from giving any veterinary medicine to a farmer without examining the animal for which the medicine is sought. [7314/95]
There is no such regulation in force at present. However, the circumstances under which a veterinary surgeon may prescribe or give controlled medicines to a farmer has been the subject of extensive consultation between my officials and organisations representing all interests involved in the context of regulations being drafted to govern the manufacture, availability and distribution of animal remedies. The objective will be to provide that appropriate diagnosis will take place to assess the desirability of using particular medicines; it is not envisaged that, in all instances, prior examination by a veterinary surgeon of each individual animal would be required.
