About us
The Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) advises Defra on veterinary medicinal products and animal feed additives.
Who we are
We’re an independent scientific advisory committee which meets about 3 times a year at the offices of the VMD:
Woodham Lane
New Haw
Addlestone
Surrey
KT15 3LS
We don’t employ any staff. Our secretariat is resourced by the VMD and can be contacted at vpc@vmd.gov.uk
Our responsibilities
The VPC was originally established under the Medicines Act of 1968. Its remit derives from Article 28 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulation (VMR) 2013, and its formal terms of reference are to:
- provide the Secretary of State with scientific advice on any aspect of veterinary medicinal products and specified feed additives
- promote the collection of information relating to suspected adverse reactions for the purpose of advising the minister
- hear representations on decisions relating to the granting, refusal, variation, suspension or revocation of a marketing authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product or an animal test certificate
As part of the network of expert and evidence committees within Defra and wider Government, VPC operates in accordance with the Government’s Principles for Scientific Advice and the Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees (CoPSAC).
Members of VPC are independent appointments made through open competition, in line with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) guidelines on best practice for making public appointments. Members are expected to act in accordance with the Principles of Public Life while respecting the commercially confidential nature of much of the information they receive.
The VPC aims to be a trusted source of evidence, advice and constructive challenge on all aspects of veterinary medicines and related products to and through the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. It does this through:
- Providing independent advice on marketing authorisation applications and Animal Test Certificates (ATCs), as requested by VMD, and hearing appeals from applicants on VMD decisions on marketing authorisation (MA) applications, reclassifications and other processes as required.
- Regularly monitoring special import certificates, ATCs and MAs issued by VMD, and undertaking quality assurance evaluations of VMD’s MA assessments reports.
- Monitoring and advising VMD on pharmacovigilance, focussing on the efficacy and adverse effects of veterinary medicines on animal, human and environmental health.
- Through its membership and members’ scientific and professional networks, providing scientific and other evidence-based intelligence and advice to VMD on both current and potential issues relating to veterinary medicines and related products.
Strategy 2023-2027
In accordance with its remit and aims, the VPC will provide independent evidence, advice and constructive challenge in order to help VMD achieve its aims of protecting public health, animal health and the environment, and of promoting animal welfare, by assuring the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines.
The strategic priorities for the VPC for the period 2023-2027 are to:
- Consider the composition and working practices of VPC to determine effective, agile and sustainable approaches to providing VMD and other government bodies with high quality, impactful and timely feedback, advice and challenge.
- Support the implementation by VMD of its Regulatory Science Strategy and Research and Development Strategy , and, thereby ensure that the regulatory functions of VMD are underpinned by the best available scientific expertise. VPC will also perform ‘horizon scanning’ of potential future issues and opportunities, facilitating scientific and other debate, and have better engagement with VMD-supported research including assessing its impact.
- Provide impactful, timely and pertinent advice to VMD on pharmacovigilance, including communicating topics and concerns, such as environmental and sustainability issues and benefit:risk approaches, identified by stakeholders and through members’ professional networks.
- Develop a communications plan to improve understanding and dialogue with stakeholders in support of VPC and VMD activities.
Corporate information
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Corporate information
Access our information
Jobs and contracts
Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme.