STATES OF JERSEY
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Medicines (Jersey) Law 1995
Importation of Unlicensed Veterinary Medicines
- Issue
The Minister is requested to consider a request from the States Veterinary Officer for authorisation of the importation of unlicensed veterinary medicines in certain circumstances. The importation of this unlicensed veterinary medicinal product is generally prohibited by Article 8(3) of the Medicines (Jersey) Law 1995. An amending Order has been drafted to permit the importation of specified veterinary drugs without a product licence.
- Background
There are an increasing number of instances when, due to manufacturing or distribution problems, a veterinary medicine authorised or licensed for use in the UK and Jersey becomes temporarily unavailable. While there is often an alternative authorised medicine for the same indication this is not always the case. In such cases it may be necessary to obtain supplies of a veterinary medicine authorised in another jurisdiction containing the same active ingredient in order that animal care is not compromised.
Recently a number of such instances have occurred and stocks of the affected medicines held by veterinary surgeons in the Island have become depleted.
- Legal Position
Article 8(3) of the Medicines (Jersey) Law 1995 provides that no person shall import any medicinal product except in accordance with a product licence. There are exemptions in the Law to provide for the importation of unlicensed human medicines when the importation is by or to the order of a doctor or dentist for administration to a particular patient of his or hers.
The Law does not contain a similar exemption in relation to veterinary medicines and veterinary surgeons and therefore the importation on unlicensed veterinary medicines is completely prohibited.
The Minister may, by Order, declare that the restrictions on importation of an unlicensed veterinary medicine, imposed by Article 8(3) of the Medicines (Jersey) Law 1995, shall not apply in such circumstances as may be prescribed.
The Medicines Advisory Council has been consulted and recommends that the Medicines (Jersey) law 1995 be amended to provide a mechanism to allow the importation of unauthorised veterinary medicines in certain circumstances.
An amending Order, The Medicines (Veterinary Drugs) (Jersey) Order 2011 has been drafted, which permits the importation of specified veterinary drugs without a product licence subject to certain conditions, if the importation is authorised by the Minister for Health and Social Services.
- Recommendation
The Minsiter is recommended to make the Medicines (Veterinary Drugs) (Jersey) Order 2011 which will come into effect the day after it is made.
Paul McCabe
Chief Pharmacist
8th April 2011