Buying Animal Remedies Generally.
This depends on the sales category (route of supply) given to the product when it was licensed:
- If it is a 'Licensed Merchant' (LM) product, you can buy it from any Licensed Merchant outlet, from a pharmacy (which stocks animal remedies) or from the vet who looks after your animals - you do not need a prescription for such products.
- If it is a 'Pharmacy Only' (PS) or 'Prescription Only Exempt' (POM(E)) product, you can buy it from a pharmacy or from the vet who looks after your animals - you do not need a prescription for such products.
- If it is a 'Prescription Only' (POM) product, you first have to have a written prescription for the product from the vet who looks after your animals and you are then free to purchase the medicine from that vet, from a pharmacy or, for certain 'POM' products [Click here to see list => MS Word Document (doc 389Kb)], from a Licensed Merchant's outlet.
How will I know the sales category of an animal remedy?
Licence holders are required to show the route of supply (in the above format) on the labelling and associated packaging. Product without this information on the label is likely to be not licensed for the Irish market; if you are supplied with such incorrectly labelled product, you should contact your local District Veterinary Office as possession of such a product may be an offence.
Can I buy animal remedies from salespersons calling to my farm?
Salespersons are not allowed to call to farms selling and supplying
animal remedies. However, certain suppliers have licences under which their salespersons are allowed to call to farms to take orders
for 'non-POM'
animal remedies which are supplied subsequently through a separate delivery service. These salespersons are required to carry a copy of their 'solicit order' licence and farmers should ask to see a copy of the licence.
Can I buy animal remedies from a mail order catalogue?
Yes, but only if the seller is authorised to do so. A limited number of suppliers are licensed to sell 'non-POM' animal remedies by mail order. Before buying from any such supplier, you should look for confirmation that the seller has a mail order licence, or if, in any doubt, you should contact the Department.
Can I buy animal remedies on the internet?
In general, farmers should be very careful about buying medicines on the internet, because of the risk of buying unauthorised products. The Department licenses suitable Irish-based internet sites to sell 'non - POM' animal remedies. Such sites are required to display a DAFF authorisation reference. If in any doubt about a particular site, you should contact the Department.
