The service is designed to make reporting easier and more efficient.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorates (VMD) has today (20 May) launched a new digital service designed to streamline how adverse events are reported.
Replacing the VMD’s previous tool, this updated platform introduces improved guidance to help users submit higher-quality reports from the outset.
An adverse event is any unfavourable or unintended observation that occurs after administering a medicine. This includes unexpected side effects (such as vomiting or skin reactions), a medicine not working as expected, environmental contamination, or a risk to a person handling the medicine.
Under the new system, veterinary professionals, Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs), and animal owners will be able to report these events directly to the VMD.
Gavin Hall, VMD’s deputy chief executive officer and director for authorisations, said: “The launch of our new adverse event reporting service marks a significant step forward in how we gather and use safety data for animal medicines. Better reporting leads to better oversight, and ultimately better outcomes for animal health and welfare.
“We encourage anyone who observes problems with an animal medicine, whether that be a side effect in an animal, accidental exposure or injury to a human, or environmental contamination, to report it, and we’ve now made it easier than ever to do so."
Image (C) Daisy Daisy/Shutterstock.
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. 
