House of Lords warns Government of 'serious risks to animal and public health' as Northern Ireland set to suffer a major loss of veterinary medicines
A House of Lords committee has written to the UK Government to warn it about "serious risks to animal and public health" with Northern Ireland due to suffer a major loss in supply of veterinary medicines from 1 January.
Baroness Margaret Ritchie recently told the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee that a Whitehall minister advised her the government has decided to do nothing on the issue until it sees how serious it becomes.
Peers heard from expert witnesses that up to 40% of medicines for livestock and pets coming into NI from GB could be discontinued because they have not been tested by EU standards post Brexit - and because supply packs could be increased to impactical sizes for small NI farmers. The EU grace period on enforcing the rules expires on 1 January.
The Lords Committee this week wrote to Nick Thomas–Symonds MP, Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, expressing serious concern over the looming grace period expiry.
The same concerns have been raised publicly in recent days by the Stormont Agriculture Committee and the British Veterinary Association, which has also written to government.
Now the peers have told the minister their concerns, after taking evidence from the Ulster Farmers' Union, Animal Health Distributors Association and the British Veterinary Association.
Committee Chair, Lord Carlile, said: “With only weeks left before the veterinary medicines grace period ends in Northern Ireland, we urge the Government to act with urgency and transparency.
"The end of the grace period risks creating a two-tier animal health system, leaving Northern Ireland with fewer choices, higher costs, and greater vulnerability to disease outbreaks.
“Witnesses told us that at least 15 percent of licensed products could be withdrawn, including ones with no suitable alternatives, yet stakeholders remain in the dark about which products they will lose access. This lack of clarity is preventing them from preparing for the end of the grace period.
“The Government must consider extending the grace period or provide a clear fallback plan. As emphasised to us by witnesses, this issue is unique to other matters relating to the Windsor Framework, as it is a matter of animal welfare, public health, and food security."
The Committee heard that of the 3,000 veterinary medicines currently licensed for supply in Northern Ireland, 10% to 15% are expected to be discontinued, out of which 20 products are likely to lead to significant adverse impacts with no suitable alternatives available on the Northern Irish market.
However its expert witnesses said that they feared that GB medicine suppliers would also discontinue supplying medicines in the smaller packs suitable for smaller family farms in Northern Ireland, making it financially impractical for them to buy. This, they feared, could result in the practical loss of the supply of up to 40% of medicines to NI.
The peers said in their letter that while the Government knows which medicines will be discontinued, it has still not informed veterinarians, wholesalers, distributors and end users, to allow them to prepare for the disruption.
The peers backed calls from witnesses for an implementation coordination group and clear operational guidance for stakeholders.
"Given the urgency of the situation, we would be grateful for a response to our letter and questions by 11 December," they added.