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Animal Sentience Committee’s assessment of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (2013) revisions.

Summary of the Animal Sentience Committee’s findings regarding amendments to the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 and the government response to their recommendations.

The Animal Sentience Committee (ASC) published its assessment of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (2013) revisions in March 2024.

The ASC was established by the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 to furnish accountability to Parliament for consideration of the welfare of sentient animals in Ministerial decisions.

The government response was laid before Parliament on 2 September 2024.

This included responses to the ASC’s recommendations for the Government to consider when implementing the changes. These recommendations were in regard to:

  • Schedule 4, paragraph 9A, relating to encouraging or facilitating misuse of the cascade and farm assurance schemes
  • Regulation 11, relating to the restrictions on the advertising of prescription only medicines.

The ASC has published a copy of their assessment and the Government response on  GOV.UK

Updates to this page

Published 12 September 2024