Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the implementation of Windsor Framework rules governing the distribution of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2026 will impact (a) GB online retailers selling consumers in Northern Ireland veterinary diet foods for animals experiencing specific conditions and (b) the sale of veterinary medicines that must be prescribed.

a) Veterinary diet foods are not classified as veterinary medicines; therefore, they can continue to be supplied in the same way as they are now.

b) Authorised veterinary medicines sold in Northern Ireland, prescribed or otherwise, will need to be manufactured in the EU or Northern Ireland in order to comply with the changes that will take effect from 1 January 2026. If those medicines move from GB or through GB, then the batch testing and release activities will need to be repeated before they are placed on the market in Northern Ireland.

The Government has introduced two schemes to complement the prescribing cascade to help ensure vets are able to prescribe the medicines needed to protect animal health and welfare.