Form

Report prescription misuse: animal medicine

Submit an online report for suspected misuse of a veterinary prescription.

Documents

Prescription misuse reporting form

Details

You can report suspected misuse of a veterinary prescription to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

There are 2 categories of misuse of a prescription:

  • alteration of an existing prescription
  • prescription fraud

Examples of alterations include:

  • changing the date the prescription was signed
  • changing the quantity of the product
  • inclusion of additional medicines
  • altering the number of repeats

Examples of fraud include:

  • supplying same prescriptions to multiple retailers for supply
  • forging the signature of a vet, pharmacist or SQP

The VMD considers each reported case of misuse.

Generally, for medicines used in non-food producing animals a warning letter will be sent to the offender for a first offence.

For high risk cases, such as medicines used in food-producing animals, repeat offences and potential supply of medicines, a case will be sent to Defra Investigation Services for further investigation.

For further information read Enforcement policy for animal medicines.

Published 18 April 2014
Last updated 1 December 2021 + show all updates
  1. Clarification of wording in last 2 paragraphs re action for high risk cases.

  2. Maintenance note removed

  3. First published.