New post-Brexit trade arrangements have not led to shortages of animal health products in NI, a committee of MPs has been told. The new rules, which came into effect on 1 January 2026, require NI to follow EU regulations on veterinary medicines.

Throughout last year, there was considerable concern that some products could be discontinued in NI due to extra requirements for supplying the relatively small market.

However, speaking at Westminster on Tuesday, Lea Reynolds from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) described the current supply of products to NI as “a stable situation”.

“The main wholesalers in NI feel that they are in a good position,” he told members of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

Reynolds indicated that the current availability of veterinary medicines in NI was not the result of stockpiling prior to new rules coming into operation.

“The wholesalers haven’t got massive stockpiles. It’s a massive industry so stockpiling is very difficult,” he explained.

“They are turning stock and they are getting new stock in, so it does feel OK, although we are continuing to monitor it very closely,” he added.

The VMD is a government agency which regulates veterinary medicines across the UK.

It also administers two new schemes which have been set up to address any shortages of products in NI due to the new post Brexit trading arrangements.

“Reliance on the schemes is not dramatic. We are aware of vets using the internal market scheme, where they are sourcing a product from GB, but its relatively few and far between,” Reynolds said.

“Where there are shortages, it tends to be UK-wide disruption, so it is not just affecting NI,” he added.