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On 19 June 2025, the government published its paper on 鈥橮rotecting Animal Health: The Government鈥檚 Approach to Veterinary Medicines in Northern Ireland鈥�.

To ensure that the needs of animal health and welfare can continue to be met, and veterinary surgeons can continue to access the medicines they need, the Government is introducing two schemes for sourcing medicines in NI in accordance with the Windsor Framework, the Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme and the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme.

These two routes will work alongside each other to ensure that Northern Ireland veterinary surgeons and the animals under their care can continue to access the medicines they need.

This guidance sets out more detail on the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme (VMIMS).

From 1 January 2026, new rules for placing veterinary medicines on the Northern Ireland market apply.

Veterinary medicines must be authorised for use in the relevant species and indication. However, recognising that this is not always possible, exceptions exist where there is a clinical need, as set out in Articles 112-114 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6.

Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme (VMIMS)

The VMIMS will work within the 鈥榗ascade鈥�, as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/6.聽 Under the cascade, Northern Ireland veterinary surgeons are able to prescribe and use medicines not authorised in Northern Ireland to avoid unacceptable suffering, as an exception to the normal rules, when no authorised medicines for an indication are available.

Prescribing decisions in accordance with the cascade should be made on a case-by-case basis. The steps of the cascade, as set out in the above guidance, must be followed.

The VMIMS removes the requirement to obtain a certificate to permit the movement of veterinary medicines authorised in Great Britain to Northern Ireland that would apply from 1 January 2026.

The VMIMS has been designed to allow veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland to continue to access prescription-only medicines (POM-Vs) authorised in Great Britain should the clinical need be unable to be met through Northern Ireland authorised veterinary medicines or medicines available under the other steps of the cascade.

The following criteria must be met to import a medicine from Great Britain to Northern Ireland via the VMIMS:

• There must not be any authorised and available veterinary medicine in Northern Ireland or the EU, as described below under 鈥楶rescribing medicines under the VMIMS鈥�
• The veterinary medicine must be supplied into Northern Ireland from Great Britain and hold a current Marketing Authorisation (MA) in Great Britain
• The veterinary medicine must not be an immunological veterinary medicine
• The veterinary medicine must be supplied for the purpose of administration under the cascade as set out in Articles 112, 113 and 114 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6

From 1 January 2026, veterinary surgeons obtaining a medicine from Great Britain under the VMIMS will not need to obtain a Special Import Certificate or other approval.

There are no additional reporting requirements for medicines supplied to Northern Ireland under VMIMS. Only the usual record keeping requirements apply.

Prescribing medicines under the VMIMS

If no veterinary medicine authorised in Northern Ireland covers the relevant species or indication, or is unavailable, veterinary surgeons based in Northern Ireland should consider if there is:

• an authorised veterinary medicine available in the EU as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/6 Article 112, Article 113 or Article 114
• a medicine authorised for human use in Northern Ireland or the EU as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/6 Article 112, Article 113 or Article 114, or
• an extemporaneous preparation as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/6 Article 112, Article 113 or Article 114

Where this is not the case, veterinary surgeons can obtain veterinary medicines from Great Britain using the VMIMS.

Veterinary surgeons can also source medicines from anywhere outside of the UK, using the processes set out in 鈥業mport of Veterinary Medicinal Products authorised for use in another EU Member State or any other third country鈥� below.

Sourcing medicines under the VMIMS

Veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland may source veterinary medicines under the VMIMS either:

• Directly from Manufacturing Authorisation Holders and wholesale dealers based in Great Britain; or
• Via wholesale dealers based in Northern Ireland

There will be no changes to licensing requirements for wholesale dealers supplying VMIMS veterinary medicines.

Limited quantities of VMIMS veterinary medicines may be held in stock by veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland. The amount held should be justified by the immediate clinical need under the cascade rules. These medicines should not be used as a first-choice treatment and their use is subject to the case-by-case assessment in accordance with the cascade provisions. Veterinary surgeons should keep up to date with new authorisations.

Advertising and promotions

As veterinary medicines supplied under the VMIMS hold a Great Britain licence, they should only be advertised in Great Britain. This does not preclude legitimate interactions and communications of non-promotional nature that may be required as regards the supply of medicines, such as pharmacovigilance.

Import of Veterinary Medicinal Products authorised for use in another EU Member State or any other third country

Veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland will continue to need a Special Import Certificate to import, use or hold any medicine used under the cascade that is not authorised for veterinary use in Northern Ireland from outside the United Kingdom, including the EU or any other third country.

Ahead of 1 January 2026, VMD will pre-assess a select number of potential EU alternative products to ensure veterinary surgeons can more easily and swiftly obtain SICs for these products.

Importation of vaccines into Northern Ireland from outside of the EU (including Great Britain)

Vaccines authorised in Great Britain are not eligible to be moved into Northern Ireland under the VMIMS.

Vaccines from Great Britain and from outside of the EU can be moved into Northern Ireland if the conditions of Article 110 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6 are met.

Veterinary surgeons will continue to need to apply for a Special Import Certificate to import, use or hold any vaccines that are not authorised for veterinary use in NI from the EU or a third country.

Reporting shortage

The VMD encourages wholesale dealers to report instances where veterinary medicines are unavailable due to manufacturing or supply issues.

Marketing Authorisation Holders are reminded that if they are unable to supply medicines to Northern Ireland (for example due to a product shortage or discontinuation) this must be reported to the VMD as soon as possible via the link below:

Report a supply problem with a veterinary medicine - 188体育.