AQW 4295/22-27

Mr Jim Allister KC
Traditional Unionist Voice
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 07/10/2022
Answered On Date: 24/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) what percentage of currently available veterinary medicines will be adversely affected from 31 December 2022 by the application of EU Laws; and (ii) what is the anticipated impact on the farming industry.

Answer:

Under the Northern Ireland (NI) Protocol, veterinary medicines moving from Great Britain to NI are to be subject to additional import requirements. Data from industry, collated by the UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, suggests that 51% of veterinary medicines would be discontinued in NI if Protocol requirements are applied.

This includes some critical products such as cardiovascular medicines, anaesthetics and vaccines, including those that prevent salmonella and E. coli. The discontinuation of vaccines in NI would have particularly severe repercussions for animal health and welfare here and give rise to unnecessary animal suffering not to mention the risk it would present to human health and trade. This could, in turn, impact on the wider agricultural industry as animal health is directly related to the productivity and profitability of farm businesses.

I have made my concerns regarding the threat the Protocol poses to the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland clear to the UK Government, which leads on the relevant EU negotiations. I have also written directly to the European Commission calling for an urgent resolution to the matter.