Enforcement policy for animal medicines

This Enforcement Policy sets out the general principles and approach that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) will take to enforce the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (Statutory instrument 2013 No. 2033, as amended).

The Secretary of State owns the powers provided by the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR), which include powers of entry and powers of an inspector.

It is however the responsibility of the VMD to ensure these regulations are enforced in accordance with our Privacy Notice and the Regulators’ Code.

We aim to protect public health, animal health and the environment, and to promote animal welfare by assuring the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines. In accordance with the VMR the definition of a veterinary medicine is:

Any substance or combination of substances presented as having properties for treating or preventing diseases in animals

Any substance or combination of substances that may be used in, or administered to, animals with a view either to restoring, correcting, or modifying physiological functions by exerting a pharmacological, immunological, or metabolic action, or to making a medical diagnosis

Any substance or combination of substances that may be used for the purpose of euthanising an animal

We meet our aims through proportionate risk-based regulation, providing high quality services to stakeholders and enforcement partners.

We receive information (raw, unverified and unevaluated data) and intelligence (processed, evaluated and perspective data) from a range of sources such as the pharmaceutical industry, veterinarians, general public and other stakeholders. This data is analysed and we may share it with our enforcement partners in accordance with our Privacy Notice.

‘Enforcement’ refers to any action taken by us in relation to suspected offences under the VMR.

The purpose of enforcement is to secure compliance with the requirements of the VMR.