Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 5

Written Answers - Veterinary Medicines.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

116 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the circumstances under which veterinary medicine sales can be undertaken by salespersons who have completed an authorised course under the auspices of his Department; the agriculture medicine supplies that are prohibited to such salespersons for sale; if it is in order for such salespersons to make sales of veterinary medicines but that these cannot be carried in vehicles for the purpose of disposal by sale by them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9795/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Under the Animal Remedies Regulations 1996, a veterinary medicine can be allocated to one of six possible routes of supply. These are: veterinary surgeon only; prescription only; prescription only exempt; pharmacy only; licensed merchant; and companion animal medicine. The decision to allocate a particular veterinary medicine to a specific route of supply is taken on the basis of the criteria contained in Regulation 13 of the regulations following a detailed science-based evaluation of the product in question.

The licensed merchant category describes a category of retail outlets which are licensed by the Minister for Agriculture and Food having met prescribed standards particularly in terms of premises and record keeping. It is a requirement that sales from such outlets must be by, or under the personal supervision of, a responsible person, being a person who has undergone an approved training course in the proper and safe handling and storage of veterinary medicines. By definition, the persons described are restricted to selling medicines allocated to either the licensed merchant or companion animal route of supply.

There is a general prohibition under Regulation 36 of the Animal Remedies Regulations 1996, as amended by the Animal Remedies (Amendment) Regulations 2002 on the sale of any category of veterinary medicine other than from fixed premises. This prohibition does not apply to the sale by a veterinary surgeon of a veterinary medicine in the course of the provision of a professional service in respect of the treatment of animals under his or her care and about which he or she has been consulted in a professional capacity.