illegal, says EU
UKwormer sale
illegal, says EU
By Philip Clarke
Europe editor
BRUSSELS has accused the UK of acting illegally by allowing agricultural merchants and saddlers to sell wormers and clostridial vaccines over the counter.
The suggestion came in a letter to Labour MEP Gordon Adam, who is challenging EU plans to make all animal health products prescription only medicines (POMs).
The EUCommission letter claims "for certain types of veterinary medicinal products, the supply in the UK without prescription, in particular for products containing anthelmintics and veterinary vaccines, may not be in conformity with community law".
The commission has sent a similar letter to the UK government, demanding a full list of products currently dispensed without prescription and the legal justification.
A spokeswoman said the UK could be acting illegally because the products in question required a withdrawal period and, therefore, presented a risk.
This is hotly denied by the Animal Health Distributors Association. "Both UK and Irish domestic legislation regulating anthelmintics and vaccines has been open to commission scrutiny for many years without any previous challenge," said secretary general Roger Dawson.
He believes the commission may be trying to sully the reputation of the UKs current distribution system, which allows low-risk Pharmacy and Merchants List (PML) products to be sold by non-veterinarians.
He claims it has been taken aback by the extent of MEP opposition to its own POM proposal and wants to frighten them off.
The commissions stance represents a U-turn, says Dr Dawson. A draft regulation it prepared in 1993 made specific provision to exempt anthelmintics from prescription orders, subject to suppliers receiving special training and registration – a process that exists in the UK through the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority.
But the commission says things have changed drastically since the early 1990s. "There are many more products on the market and some of these are much more potent," said the spokeswoman.
The commission is awaiting the UKs response, but if it believes it has a case the matter could end up in the European Court.
Meanwhile, the commissions proposal to make all veterinary medicines POM is being considered by the European Parliament.
A report will be presented to the environment committee in April, but Dr Dawson is confident the UK will get an amendment included to protect its current PML arrangement.
Final decisions are not expected until next year, with the revised directive taking effect in 2004 or 2005. *