THE VMD is planning to raise its
charge for inspecting veterinary
premises from £250 to £350.
This is one of the measures
proposed in the latest round of
amendments to the Veterinary
Medicines Regulations which are due to
come into force in October.
The revisions can be found on
www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/public/vmr_consultation.aspx; the VMD’s consultation
on the changes closes on 18th February
(comments can be sent to
l.shelley@vmd.defra.gsi.gov.uk).
The VMD says the 40% increase
will cover the costs of carrying out the inspections. All premises which are not
in the RCVS practice standards scheme
– about 2,000 – are subject to routine
inspections.
Another change proposed is that the
VMD should have the power to remove
premises from the register (which is
held by the Royal College) if they do
not meet the required standards for the
storage and supply of veterinary
medicines.
This, says the VMD, will bring
veterinary practices in line with the
regulations pertaining to other premises
which are authorised to store and supply
veterinary medicines.
The VMD states that any practices
falling below the required standard
would be given plenty of opportunity to
take corrective action before their
licence was revoked.
Among the other changes is the
widely publicised move to ban the
advertising of antimicrobials to farmers
and other professional animal keepers, a
change required to bring the UK into
line with EU legislation.
