The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed that new regulations regarding the requirement of prescriptions for antimicrobials, including antibiotics and medicated feeds will come into effect on January 28, 2022.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue confirmed earlier this week that there would be a four-month deferral to aspects of the European-wide veterinary medicines regulations, namely:

But in relation to new prescribing rules for antibiotics, antimicrobials, and medicated feed, the January 28 deadline still applies.

For the first time, a clear timeline for the introduction and implementation of new veterinary medicine regulations has been provided by the DAFM, as follows:

As reported previously by Agriland, a large-scale targeted advisory service on animal health (TASAH) programme, specifically focussed on parasite control, will be available to farmers in 2022.

This measure will allow farmers engage a specifically trained vet to provide advice on parasite-control measures in their herd, at no cost to the farmer.

Minister McConalogue said he recognised that new veterinary medicines regulations and prescribing rules mark a significant step-change for farmers, vets, pharmacists and licensed merchants.