Committee publication · Correspondence · 5 June 2026

Correspondence to Baroness Hayman regarding concerns about access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland and risks around antimicrobial resistance, 4 June 2026

From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Summary

The EFRA Committee writes to Baroness Hayman about persistent problems accessing veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland six months after the grace period ended. Despite limited systemic impact so far due to stockpiles, vets and farmers report adapting prescribing practices, increased reliance on the veterinary cascade, and concerns about antimicrobial stewardship. The Committee requests data on monitoring cascade use, VMIMS/VMHSS uptake, and product availability disparities, and urges continued prioritization of a veterinary medicines agreement with the EU.

Key findings

Significant stockpiles of veterinary medicines accumulated ahead of changes mean systemic effects may only become apparent as supplies diminish over summer 2026.
Veterinarians are switching to alternative medicines or formulations that are less familiar, less suitable, or more expensive due to sourcing difficulties.
Increased routine reliance on the veterinary cascade is raising costs for veterinary treatments in Northern Ireland not experienced elsewhere in the UK.
Vets unable to access commonly used antimicrobials for routine treatment are turning to antimicrobials reserved for serious infections, raising concerns about antimicrobial resistance stewardship.
Pack sizes and pricing present challenges in the Northern Ireland market; more robust data collection on VMIMS and VMHSS operation and uptake is needed to understand the true extent of access problems.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

veterinary-medicinesanimal-welfarenorthern-irelandantimicrobial-resistancetrade-regulation

Key actors

Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, British Veterinary Association, Harper Adams University, Alistair Carmichael MP

Notable line

“Veterinarians described adapting prescribing practices where certain products are harder to source, including switching to alternative medicines or formulations which may be less familiar, less suitable, or more expensive.”

Key Quotes

“… significant stockpiles of medicines had been amassed ahead of the changes, meaning any systemic effects may only become apparent once those supplies diminish, likely over summer”
— British Veterinary Association (via Committee reference Q638) · on timing of impact from new arrangements

“We heard examples of vets being unable to access commonly used "workhorse" antimicrobials for routine treatment, and instead turning to antimicrobials typically reserved for more serious or critical infections.”
— Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee · on antimicrobial stewardship concerns

“Whilst recognising the importance of the cascade in exceptional circumstances, some suggested its more routine use is increasing the cost of veterinary treatments in Northern Ireland that are not being experienced elsewhere in the UK.”
— Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee · on increased veterinary cascade reliance

“We strongly urge the Department to maintain momentum on this issue and to continue to treat a veterinary medicines agreement as a high priority once Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) negotiations are complete.”
— Alistair Carmichael MP · call for sustained EU negotiations priority

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗