FOI release

FOI2026/00145 – Material classification - substances recognised as medicinal by function

Published 20 March 2026

Your request

I am seeking information held by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), and where applicable the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC), relating to the classification of the following materials

• Acacia catechu
• Scutellaria baicalensis
• Sodium Bicarbonate
• Povidone Iodine
• Valerian
• Zinc Chloride/Oxide/Sulphate

as substances “recognised as medicinal by function” under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.

Specifically, I request copies of the following information held by the VMD and/or VPC:

1. Any internal assessments, briefing papers, scientific reviews, risk assessments, or evaluations prepared or relied upon when considering whether these materials should be treated as medicinal by function.
2. Any correspondence (including emails or letters) between VMD staff, or between the VMD and the Veterinary Products Committee, that discusses these materials in the context of:
   o medicinal-by-function status,
   o regulatory classification,
   o enforcement, compliance, or guidance updates.

3. Any committee papers, agendas, minutes (including draft or unpublished minutes), or advisory documents from the Veterinary Products Committee, or any other advisory group, in which these materials were discussed in relation to medicinal-by-function classification.

4. Any internal guidance, decision records, or rationale documents explaining the basis on which these materials were added to, or confirmed on, the VMD’s published list of “Substances recognised as medicinal by function in veterinary medicines”.
   If the information is held across multiple documents, I am content to receive extracts or summaries where this would reduce the cost or burden of compliance, provided the substance of the information is retained.
   If any part of this request is refused under an exemption, please:
   • specify which exemption is being relied upon,
   • explain why it applies, and
   • disclose any non-exempt information that can reasonably be separated from exempt material.

Our reply

A substance is considered medicinal by function under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) where it is capable of restoring, correcting, or modifying physiological functions in animals through pharmacological, immunological, or metabolic action. This determination is based on the inherent properties of the substance and the effects it produces in the animal.

The VMD publishes Substances recognised as medicinal by function in veterinary medicines - GOV.UK. The need to include substances on the published list may be identified through ongoing enforcement casework or other regulatory activity. For example, valerian, although recently added to the published list, has long been regarded as medicinal by function due to its inherent pharmacological effects.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has produced scientific assessments that provide evidence supporting the medicinal nature of many of the substances you have enquired about. These include HMPC Monographs for herbal substances and CVMP/MRL Summary Reports for chemical substances.

Herbal substances (EMA HMPC Monographs)

• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis): The EMA monograph and scientific summary describe its activity on GABA receptors and its sedative properties.
• Scutellaria baicalensis: The EMA has issued a Draft Monograph and “List of Entries” for Scutellaria, describing its anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant properties as a traditional medicinal product.
• Acacia catechu: The EMA has not published a monograph for Acacia catechu. Its medicinal classification in the UK is supported by references in the British Pharmacopoeia and its well‑established astringent properties.

Chemical substances (EMA CVMP/MRL Assessments)

• Povidone‑iodine: The EMA iodine summary report confirms its antiseptic activity and recognises povidone‑iodine as a pharmacologically active substance.
• Zinc (oxide, chloride, sulphate): The EMA MRL summary report for zinc identifies medicinal uses, including topical astringent effects and oral use for deficiency and gastrointestinal conditions.
• Sodium bicarbonate: The EMA MRL report for sodium hydrogen carbonate confirms its pharmacologically active role in alkalising blood and rumen contents.

Where these documents can be located

You can access the EMA scientific evidence using the following search terms on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) website:

Substance	Suggested search terms
Valerian	“Valeriana officinalis HMPC monograph”
Scutellaria	“Scutellaria baicalensis HMPC draft”
Sodium bicarbonate	“Sodium hydrogen carbonate MRL summary”
Povidone‑iodine	“Iodine CVMP MRL summary”
Zinc	“Zinc oxide CVMP MRL report”

Thresholds for substances

The thresholds applied by the VMD are informed by robust scientific evidence. In almost all cases, the numerical limits are taken directly from the European Medicines Agency’s Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) Reports or from HMPC Monographs, which provide the authoritative scientific basis for determining the pharmacological activity and safe use of these substances.