Annual submission deadline for small pet animal medicine exemptions

Companies marketing medicines for small pet animals exempt from the requirements of a Marketing Authorisation must submit an annual return to the VMD by 30 November 2026.

Companies marketing medicines for small pet animals that are exempt from the requirements of a Marketing Authorisation (MA) under Schedule 6 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR), must submit an annual list of products currently on the market to the VMD by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for medicines marketed without a full MA for specific small pet species.

This information helps the VMD to understand what products are marketed under the exemption, enabling enhanced regulatory oversight of the market and fair regulation across the sector.

The VMD would like to reiterate that all companies that market medicines exempt from authorisation must apply for registration with the VMD at least two months before marketing any products not previously registered.

Any company or person marketing veterinary medicines for small pet animals exempt from authorisation must complete the annual return. This includes medicines for:

Medicines for chickens, ducks and turkeys are not covered by this exemption as these are classified as food-producing animals.

To complete your annual return, and for detailed information about which products qualify for the exemption and manufacturing requirements, please refer to the full guidance; Products marketed under small pet animal exemptions: Registration - GOV.UK.

Companies must ensure they maintain their registration to continue marketing these exempt products.