Almost two-fifths of pack sizes for veterinary medicines available to Northern Ireland’s animal health sector could disappear next year as new Windsor Framework rules come into force in January 2026, an industry body has warned.
The Animal Health Dealers Association (AHDA) says manufacturers have indicated that up to 40% of pack sizes used by Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs) could be withdrawn from the Northern Ireland market.
They warn that this will happen unless veterinary medicines are brought back into the Windsor framework in the same way as human medicines. Small, affordable packs are particularly at risk.
The UK government’s own estimates put the potential reduction in approved produce at between 10 and 15 per cent, but AHDA claims the impact on pack sizes will be much greater, with Northern Ireland’s predominantly small and medium-sized farms disproportionately affected.
From 1 January 2026, veterinary medicines will require separate authorization in the UK and Northern Ireland, creating new regulatory and cost barriers for manufacturers.
AHDA warns that this could leave farmers facing higher costs for larger packs, limit treatment options and risk reducing animal stocking if the product becomes unavailable.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) says the impact will be both economic and ethical, with some farmers forced to buy more medicine than they need, while others may avoid treatment altogether due to the prohibitive cost.
The union has warned that Northern Ireland should not be left with a “dual-tiered animal welfare system” that prevents producers from accessing products that are freely available in other parts of the UK.
The issue stems from the Windsor Framework, a post-Brexit trade deal aimed at protecting the flow of goods between the UK and Northern Ireland while maintaining access to the EU’s single market.
While this has eased friction in many areas, veterinary medicines remain unresolved, with industry bodies warning that without further restrictions, Northern Ireland could lose access to key products from 2026 onwards.
Northern Ireland MP Carla Lockhart said farmers and veterans were currently facing “uncertainty and lack of transparency” ahead of the December 31, 2025 deadline for the grace period on existing supply agreements to end, warning that more products could be affected than the government had originally anticipated.
Mr Lockhart said the new Veterinary Medicines Health Status Scheme and Internal Market Scheme were developed on the assumption that only a small number of products would be affected, but early indications from veterinary bodies suggested widespread confusion.
He also expressed concern that responsibility for overseeing the transition appeared to be split between several government departments, leaving Northern Ireland “uniquely and unfairly exposed”.
He tabled a series of parliamentary questions seeking clarity on the management of the disruption, the impact on the competitiveness of Northern Ireland farms and what guidance veterans, SQPs and farmers can expect in the lead-up to January. She also requested an emergency meeting with the responsible minister.
At a meeting of the House of Lords Northern Ireland Oversight Committee this week, representatives from the UFU, British Veterinary Association NI branch and AHDA said the current policy approach was flawed and the industry was being left “in the dark” as the deadline approached.
The UFU is calling on the UK Government and the European Commission to urgently secure further exemptions to ensure the availability of veterinary medicines beyond 2026 and give manufacturers, SQPs and the wider supply chain the confidence they need.
AHDA says the simplest solution remains harmonization of veterinary and human medicines within the Windsor Framework. Avoiding what the AHDA warns could lead to serious disparities in animal care, higher costs for farmers and increased pressure on veterinarians across Northern Ireland.
