The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) has announced that it is updating its code of professional conduct in response to the changes brought on by new veterinary medicines regulations.

The VCI, which is the statutory body for regulating veterinary medicine in Ireland, said that its code of professional conduct is a binding code of conduct setting mandatory standards for the practice of veterinary medicine for all veterinary practitioners registered in the country.

The body said that this update to the VCI code of conduct is required in response to the implementation of an EU regulation on veterinary medicinal products and the rules around the prescribing and use of veterinary medicines.

That regulation has now been given effect in Irish law by the Veterinary Medicinal Products Medicated Feed and Fertiliser Regulation Act 2023 and the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations 2024 statutory instrument, signed into law in September 2024.

The regulations deal with prescribing and dispensing veterinary medicines, alongside the prescribing of antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products for non-therapeutic purposes in food-producing animals.

The VCI said that this reflects the recommended increased regulation on antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products "to protect their efficacy".

This will shortly reflect a move from these antiparasitic products, such as worms and flea treatments, being available over-the-counter to requiring a veterinary prescription.

The main aspects of the updated VCI code of professional conduct are as follows:

Guidance on the responsible use of medicinal products;
Competent and Appropriate Veterinary Care:
Animal Health and Welfare:

Commenting on the updated code of conduct, VCI president Rachel Brown said: "The code of professional conduct offers definitions of terms contained in the EU Veterinary Medicines Regulations to support the prudent use of animal medicines in Ireland.

"Strict requirements applying to the privilege of prescribing antimicrobials stand as binding on all veterinary practitioners, alongside best practice guidance for the prescribing of antiparasitic medicines, underpinning a considered and conservative approach to protect the efficacy of a dwindling repertoire of antiparasitic veterinary medicines," Brown added.

Niamh Muldoon, the CEO of the VCI, said: "The [council] will ensure that the requirement for a veterinary prescription in respect of antiparasitic medicines is implemented in a manner that ensures the prudent and informed prescribing by veterinary practitioners, in support of animal health and welfare, farm productivity, environmental health, and consumer confidence."