VMD to phase out COVID-19 medicines facilitations
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The relaxation will last until 31 August 2020 and then cease.
Temporary measures to allow vets to delegate the supply of veterinary medicines to internet retailers or wholesale dealers for home delivery are to cease on the 31 August.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) first relaxed the enforcement of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMF) in April to meet social distancing guidelines. Now, in light of the easing of lockdown, the VMD has announced a final extension to these measures.
In a statement, the VMD writes: ‘In view of the updated Government guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this notice amended has been amended to provide that the VMD has made a final extension to the temporary relaxation of the specific provisions of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013. This relaxation will now last until 31 August 2020 and then cease’.
The VMD states that it will not issue an improvement notice if there are breaches of the relevant provisions of Schedule 3 of the VMR during this period.
'This is a temporary VMD enforcement policy in relation to specific obligations under the VMR only,' the VMD writes. 'The VMR continue to apply. The VMD may continue to take action to enforce those obligations in cases where the procedures described in the statement are not followed.'
‘These changes do not affect the existing provisions that allow a veterinary surgeon in exceptional circumstances, for example for animal welfare reasons, to instruct a Wholesale Dealer Authorisation holder to deliver medicines to the client’s premises.’
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
