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The options available to Ireland to mitigate the impact of tougher EU rules around the sale and supply of wormers and doses are limited, according to Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue.
Farmers will be required to obtain a prescription for all anthelmintics from 2022, not because of new regulations introduced in 2019, but because of evidence of widespread resistance, the Minister told the Seanad on Tuesday.
“The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) established an expert task force in February 2019 which reported in December 2019," he said.
"The task force identified risks in terms of the environmental safety of antiparasitics and conclusive evidence of widespread anthelmintic resistance.
“It is this report that has had the effect of requiring Ireland to make antiparasitics subject to a prescription and not the new regulation. Ireland has no national discretion on this issue.”
Concerns
Some 900 merchants and 300 pharmacies currently supply these products and Senator Victor Boyhan raised their concerns with Minister McConalogue.
To alleviate the potential damage, there have been calls for suitably qualified persons working in these businesses to be permitted to write prescriptions, subject to strict training requirements. Such a derogation is provided for in the regulations.
However, Minister McConalogue said it not open to Ireland.
“A derogation under Article 105(4) was never a legal avenue open to Ireland, as it refers to allowing someone other than a vet to prescribe certain medicines, but only if our national law allowed this prior to January 2019.”
Options
Ireland has never allowed anyone other than a vet to prescribe animal medicines.
“While we continue to explore all avenues, at this point, the Department's view remains clear that Article 105(4) is not an option open to Ireland,” the Minister said.
SHARING OPTIONS: