Traders have warned that serious risks to animals and public health loom in Northern Ireland as the veterinary medicines grace period – an arrangement that would allow continued supply of UK-approved products after Brexit – draws to a close with no clear government plan.
The House of Lords Northern Ireland Oversight Committee has written to Nick Thomas-Symonds, Minister for Constitutional and European Union Relations, urging him to take urgent action by the December 31 deadline.
The warning came after an evidence conference with representatives from the Ulster Farmers’ Union, the Veterinary Medicines Dealers Association and the British Veterinary Association, which highlighted the scale of disruption Northern Ireland could face if access to essential veterinary medicines was restricted.
Committee chairman Lord Carlyle said the situation required immediate action. “With just weeks left until the end of the grace period for veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland, we call on the Government to act quickly and transparently,” he said.
He warned that the loss of key products could create a “two-tiered animal health system”, leaving Northern Ireland with fewer options, higher costs and greater vulnerability to disease.
Witnesses told the committee that around 10-15% of the 3,000 veterinary medicines currently licensed in Northern Ireland could be withdrawn, including around 20 products for which there are no suitable alternatives.
While both the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and pharmaceutical companies know which medicines are at risk, stakeholders are not informed, leaving veterinarians, wholesalers and farmers unable to plan.
Key impacts include reduced availability of preventive treatments, pack size limitations that force farmers to purchase inappropriate quantities, and increased costs for both livestock and pets.
Witnesses also said overprescription could increase if alternatives are not available, increasing the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Concerns have also been raised about the resilience of the supply chain, with only two of the six existing wholesalers expected to continue trading in Northern Ireland after the grace period ends.
Pet owners are likely to lose access to online veterinary pharmacies, which are all UK-based, increasing the risk of Northern Ireland consumers paying more for less choice.
Agriculture plays a key role in Northern Ireland’s economy, with a value of £8 billion and providing more than a quarter of Britain’s indigenous food. Stakeholders warned that reduced availability of veterinary medicines could impede rapid response in case of disease outbreaks, with one witness noting that infectious diseases “ignore national borders”.
Lord Carlyle emphasized that this issue is distinct from other Windsor Framework issues. “This issue is unique because it is an animal welfare, public health and food security issue,” he said.
The committee urges ministers to consider extending the grace period or presenting a credible alternative plan, and has asked for a response by December 11.
They say as the deadline approaches, the government needs to urgently clarify whether it will extend the grace period, introduce temporary relief measures or allow the current arrangements to expire, a decision that will determine the immediate stability of Northern Ireland’s animal health system.
