Record keeping requirements for veterinary medicines
Records that must be kept when supplying or administering veterinary medicines in the UK.
The Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) require records to be kept of the supply and administration of medicines in certain circumstances.
The full detail of record keeping requirements are stated in the VMR.
The VMR explain what records must be kept; they do not specify a set procedure or system needed to meet these requirements.
All records must be durable, permanent and made available for inspection on request by a duly authorised person.
The records may be kept electronically. You should consider systems that fit best with your procedures.
Record keeping for food producing animals
Medicines records must be kept for food producing animals for at least 5 years in accordance with the VMR.
Method of recording
There are publications available in which to record medicines administered to animals by farmers and other keepers of animals:
- Animal Health Distributors Association (AHDA) publish an Animal Medicines Record Book
- The Pig Veterinary Society also produces a Veterinary Medicines Record of Administration booklet
- The Fish Health Inspectorate produces an Aquatic Animal Medicine Record
- The National Bee Unit Bee record keeping card
Record keeping for horses
UK legislation defines horses as food-producing species. Owners and keepers are required to keep records of veterinary medicines given to horses that will enter the food chain. Owners or keepers must also keep records of all vaccinations given, in the horse’s passport.
Further information regarding the recording of veterinary medicines for horses is available.
Audit requirements
The VMR requires anyone involved in the retail or wholesale supply of POM-V and POM-VPS veterinary medicines to carry out an audit at least once a year.
Any person supplying veterinary medicines classified as NFA-VPS or AVM-GSL is not required to carry out an annual audit.