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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to pack sizes, prescribing routes and product availability after 31 December 2025 on farm businesses and pet owners in Northern Ireland.

We continue to engage with businesses across the supply chain to support the transition at the end of this year to ensure that vets, farmers and pet owners continue to have the access to medicines that they need from 1 January.

We are aware of the impact that the potential of limited pack sizes may have on certain industry sectors in Northern Ireland and we are monitoring this closely. Our evidence does not currently suggest this is a widespread issue, although we appreciate individual companies may be affected. We understand that typically the most popular pack sizes will continue to be supplied.

We remain confident in our assessment that the vast majority of veterinary medicines will continue to be supplied and that the schemes we are introducing from1 January can address supply gaps if they emerge.