The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has announced the launch of a new veterinary medicines packaging surveillance scheme, due to come into force on 2 February 2026.
The new scheme is designed to modernise how veterinary medicine packaging is assessed and monitored in the UK, maintaining regulatory standards while reducing unnecessary administrative burden on the animal health industry. Rather than focusing solely on pre-market checks, the VMD will place greater emphasis on monitoring products already available on the market, enabling a more proportionate and risk-based approach to oversight.
How the new scheme will work
Under the new system, the VMD will select a group of veterinary medicines for packaging assessment every three months. Products will be sourced directly from wholesalers, and all packaging components will be reviewed.
Assessments will check that packaging complies with:
- The approved product information text (QRD)
- The principles set out in the Product Literature Standards
Reporting and corrective action
Findings from each assessment will be shared with the relevant Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) within the three-month review period.
Where non-compliance is identified, the VMD will outline the corrective actions required. These may range from:
- Minor updates at the next regulatory opportunity for low-severity issues
- Submission of a formal variation to correct mock-ups
- In more serious cases, the classification and tracking of a product defect
The timeframe for corrective action will depend on the severity of the issue identified.
Further information
For queries relating to the new scheme, the VMD advises contacting them directly and to read the full HMRC / VMD announcement: VMD Announcement.
