Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme
There are two additional routes available to support the supply of veterinary medicines in NI, the Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme and the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme.
Background
On 19 June 2025, the government published its paper on ’Protecting Animal Health: The Government’s Approach to Veterinary Medicines in Northern Ireland’.
To ensure that the needs of animal health and welfare can continue to be met, and veterinary surgeons can continue to access the medicines they need, the Government has introduced two schemes for sourcing medicines in NI in accordance with the Windsor Framework; the Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme and the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme.
These two routes will work alongside each other to ensure that Northern Ireland veterinary surgeons and the animals under their care can continue to access the medicines they need.
This guidance sets out more detail on the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme (VMIMS).
Veterinary medicines must be authorised for use in the relevant species and indication. However, recognising that this is not always possible, exceptions exist where there is a clinical need, as set out in Articles 112-114 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6.
Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme (VMIMS)
The VMIMS will work within the ‘cascade’ as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/6. Under the cascade, Northern Ireland veterinary surgeons are able to prescribe and use medicines not authorised in Northern Ireland to avoid unacceptable suffering, as an exception to the normal rules, when no authorised medicines for an indication are available.
Prescribing decisions in accordance with the cascade should be made on a case-by-case basis. The steps of the cascade, as set out in the above guidance, must be followed.
The VMIMS removes the requirement to obtain a certificate to permit the movement of veterinary medicines authorised in Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
In accordance with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published a which allows for any movement of a veterinary medicine from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the cascade. Under the VMIMS, this replaces the system of veterinary surgeons applying for specific certificates on a case-by-case basis.
The VMIMS has been designed to allow veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland to continue to access prescription-only medicines (POM-Vs) authorised in Great Britain should the clinical need be unable to be met through Northern Ireland authorised veterinary medicines or medicines available under the other steps of the cascade.
The following criteria must be met to import a medicine from Great Britain to Northern Ireland via the VMIMS:
- There must not be any authorised and available veterinary medicine in Northern Ireland or the EU, as described below under ‘Prescribing medicines under the VMIMS’
- The veterinary medicine must be supplied into Northern Ireland from Great Britain and hold a current Marketing Authorisation (MA) in Great Britain
- The veterinary medicine must not be an immunological veterinary medicine
- The veterinary medicine must be supplied for the purpose of administration under the cascade as set out in Articles 112, 113 and 114 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6
Veterinary surgeons obtaining a medicine from Great Britain under the VMIMS will not need to obtain a Special Import Certificate or other approval.
Considerations when deciding to use the Cascade/VMIMS
The VMIMS does not change expectations on vets in determining and recording clinical decision making when prescribing under the cascade (see the Record keeping section). Vets should continue to work down the cascade hierarchy to determine the appropriate product for the animal and condition presented, and record this in patient records as now: Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons (Section 13). Vets will be best placed to determine the specific needs of their patients and have a broad clinical discretion as to whether the use of the VMIMS is justified in line with the principles of the cascade.
Prescribing medicines under the VMIMS
If no veterinary medicine authorised in Northern Ireland covers the relevant species or indication, or is unavailable, veterinary surgeons based in Northern Ireland should consider if there is:
- an authorised veterinary medicine available in the EU as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/6 Article 112, Article 113 or Article 114
- a medicine authorised for human use in Northern Ireland or the EU as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/6 Article 112, Article 113 or Article 114, or
- an extemporaneous preparation as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/6 Article 112, Article 113 or Article 114
Where this is not the case, veterinary surgeons can obtain veterinary medicines from Great Britain using the VMIMS without the need to apply for a Special Import Certificate, unless if concerns an immunological product.
Veterinary surgeons can also source medicines from anywhere outside of the UK, using the processes set out in ‘Import of Veterinary Medicinal Products authorised for use in another EU Member State or any other third country’ below.
Sourcing medicines under the VMIMS
Veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland may source veterinary medicines under the VMIMS either:
- Directly from Manufacturing Authorisation Holders and wholesale dealers based in Great Britain; or
- Via wholesale dealers based in Northern Ireland
There will be no changes to licensing requirements for wholesale dealers supplying veterinary medicines under the VMIMS.
Limited quantities of VMIMS veterinary medicines may be held in stock by veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland. The amount held should be justified by the clinical need. These medicines should not be used as a first-choice treatment and their use is subject to the case-by-case assessment in accordance with the cascade provisions. Veterinary surgeons should keep up to date with new authorisations.
Advertising and promotions
As veterinary medicines supplied under the VMIMS hold a Great Britain Authorisation, they should only be advertised in Great Britain. This does not preclude legitimate interactions and communications of non-promotional nature that may be required as regards the supply of medicines, such as pharmacovigilance.
Import of Veterinary Medicinal Products authorised for use in another EU Member State or any other third country
Veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland will continue to need a Special Import Certificate to import, use or hold any medicine used under the cascade that is not authorised for veterinary use in Northern Ireland from outside the United Kingdom, including the EU or any other third country. This excludes any products listed on the Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme - GOV.UK.
Importation of vaccines into Northern Ireland from outside of the EU (including Great Britain)
Vaccines authorised in Great Britain or a third country are not eligible to be moved into Northern Ireland under the VMIMS.
Vaccines from Great Britain and from outside of the EU can be moved into Northern Ireland if the conditions of Article 110 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6 are met.
Details of the vaccines that are permitted to be used in Northern Ireland under Article 110 are available on the SIS portal.
Veterinary surgeons will continue to need to apply for a Special Import Certificate to import, use or hold any vaccines that are not authorised for veterinary use in NI from the EU or a third country.
Reporting shortage
The VMD encourages wholesale dealers to report instances where veterinary medicines are unavailable due to manufacturing or supply issues.
Marketing Authorisation Holders are reminded that if they are unable to supply medicines to Northern Ireland, for example due to a product shortage or discontinuation, this must be reported to the VMD as soon as possible via the link below:
Report a supply problem with a veterinary medicine - GOV.UK.
Updates to this page
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Revised certificate added.
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Guidance updated to allow all those with an interest in the supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland to prepare for the requirements under EU veterinary medicine regulations that will come into effect in Northern Ireland on 1 January 2026.
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First published.