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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will commission an independent assessment of the effectiveness of the (a) Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme and (b) Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme since those schemes were established.

Continued access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland at the end of the grace period is a government priority. We continue to engage extensively with stakeholders and have updated the guidance following their feedback, including on the two schemes. The two schemes will take effect from 1 January and we will monitor their effectiveness and consider further reviews, which could include an independent assessment by the Veterinary Products Committee, if needed. We remain confident that the schemes can address supply gaps if they emerge.