Mayo pharmacist Daragh Quinn has warned that an EU regulation limiting the prescription of animal medicines such as wormers and drenches to vets could cause an increase in illegal cross-border trading.

Quinn said that if two different rules existed on the island of Ireland post-Brexit with an easier access to anti-parasitics in Northern Ireland it could inadvertently cause an increase medicine smuggling.

Should the regulation be implemented in a draconian fashion it could drive things underground

ADVERTISEMENT

“There would be greater accessibility to these products in NI and it is highly likely that these medicines will find their way across the border,” Quinn told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“Should the regulation be implemented in a draconian fashion it could drive things underground as a consequence.”

Quinn pointed to a recent court case in Longford where a large supply of animal medicines was intercepted coming from NI.

Regulation

Currently the sale of wormers and other anti-parasitics is allowed in co-ops or pharmacies where a trained responsible person is present.

However, due to growing concerns over anti-microbial resistance (AMR) this is set to change according to the EU regulation from January 2022.

Farmers will have the option of obtaining a prescription from their vet for an animal wormer and taking it to a co-op or pharmacy, but will not have the option to directly get a wormer from a co-op or pharmacy. This will impact all owners of cattle, sheep or horses.

Quinn said that discussions between the Department of Agriculture and stakeholders had been productive but urged farmers to contact their local representatives before the deadline for submissions to the stakeholder group on 22 July.

He said that the Department had the option of ensuring that trained personnel in pharmacies or co-ops with the relevant FETAC qualifications could issue prescriptions for anti-parasitics and warned against a potential lack of competition.