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What changes will happen in January 2022?

From 28 January 2022, every prescription issued to every farm in Ireland will be almost immediately uploaded on to a digital database called the National Veterinary Prescribing System, which will be viewed and controlled by the Department of Agriculture.

Why are these changes happening?

These changes are being brought in by the EU and Department of Agriculture staff have told the Irish Farmers Journal that countries trading with Ireland now expect this level of oversight across food-producing animals as it has been available in other EU countries for a number of years.

How will prescriptions be issued?

Prescriptions will be issued by text or email to the farmer, who can then take it to their vet practice or their merchant in the case of buying wormers. Hard copies will still be available.

Antibiotic prescriptions will only be valid for five days from the date they are issued but the same time limit will not apply to wormer prescriptions.

Who can see how much medicine I use on my farm?

The Department will be able to monitor how much medicine is used, what type of medicine and which animals are being treated on each farm in the country through the system. It has said outside bodies such as Bord Bia, will not have access to it.

Will there be changes to veterinary medicines and worm doses?

Farmers will need a prescription from a vet to buy wormers and fluke doses. They will also only receive the exact amount of worm dose or antibiotic they need per animal. This could mean farmers will receive a syringe of antibiotic such as PenStrep with an exact dose, rather than a full bottle.

Can I still worm dose or use antibiotics on my entire herd/flock?

Blanket dosing or medically treating animals will not be possible without proving the need for it. For dairy farmers using dry cow tubes, it will mean a vet has to sign off on each cow being treated. For a suckler or sheep farmer, it is likely they will have to prove, by using dung sampling, that their entire herd or flock needs treatment. The regulations aim to ensure that resistance to wormer or antimicrobial resistance (AMR) does not build up.

Can I still buy wormers from co-ops or licensed merchants?

Yes, but only if you first have a prescription issued by a vet and, as previously mentioned, it is likely that you will have to prove your animals need treatment for worms. It is unclear if vets will charge for issuing a prescription that is not used in their practice.

How have farm bodies and vets responded to the news?

Farm organisations and TDs have voiced their concern that the new measures will increase the price of wormers as it could limit competition if farmers feel they can’t go to merchants to buy them. Veterinary Ireland has raised concerns that the system has not been seen by vets or farmers and there is a relatively short window of time before it is meant to be fully operational.