FOI release

FOI – Information on products containing mRNA

Published 13 January 2026

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ATI1125 Request

Questions under Freedom Of Information Act

  1. I would like to know whether there are veterinary vaccines using the mRNA platform in Northern Ireland.

  2. Are any ongoing or intended mRNA (messenger RNA)/saRNA (self-amplifying RNA) or taRNA (trans-amplifying RNA) or similar trials being carried out in animals in N. Ireland or any authorization underway or planned for the future that DAERA are aware of.

  3. I would be grateful for your assurance that no authorization will be permitted in future without evidence to guarantee that the above and other adverse events related to these products can possibly occur.

Our reply

There are currently no veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) authorised in the UK containing mRNA/saRNA/taRNA as the active substance, or field trials being conducted in Northern Ireland.

However, legislation does not preclude manufacturers of mRNA/saRNA/taRNA VMPs from applying for a marketing authorisation, or animal test certificate to conduct a field trial in the future. All marketing authorisation applications are rigorously assessed by VMD for quality, safety (target and non-target animals, user, consumer and environment) and efficacy and the overall benefit-risk balance evaluated. Each VMP is only authorised once it has met robust standards of safety, effectiveness and quality relevant for the product. After authorisation VMPs are monitored for safety and efficacy through pharmacovigilance. The Summary of Product Characteristics for each authorised VMP describes the medicines properties and conditions for its safe and effective use, provides comprehensive information on the medicine’s composition, indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions for safe use, known side effects and adverse effects, and is updated throughout the lifecycle of the product.

For Northern Ireland, under the Windsor Framework, the EU Centralised Procedure is mandatory for VMPs containing an active substance such as mRNA/saRNA/taRNA, which is governed by the European Medicines Agency (https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/homepage) and not VMD. The application for the marketing authorisation is made to the EMA and the Marketing Authorisation is granted by the European Commission.

Veterinary vaccines play an import part in: animal health and welfare, disease prevention and control including emerging diseases and preventing the spread of zoonoses and food-borne pathogens; food production and security; helping to combat antimicrobial resistance by reducing disease burden which reduces the need for antibiotics; and play an import role in the One Health approach.

Further information about veterinary medicines currently authorised in Great Britain and Northern Ireland can be found on the Product Information Database (Check if an animal medicine is licensed - GOV.UK).

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