Veterinary prescription

Retailer of veterinary medicinal products

If you are a retailer of veterinary medicinal products, you may provide prescription-only veterinary medicinal products of the URA category if you hold a DR licence. These URA veterinary medicinal products may only be offered in the Netherlands and exclusively subject to a veterinary prescription. If you trade in veterinary medicinal products through a web shop, you must also comply with the rules regarding internet trade in veterinary medicinal products.

Veterinarian or pharmacist

Are you a pharmacist? As a pharmacist you hold a DR licence by operation of law (Article 4.3 of the Veterinary Medicinal Products Decree 2022). If you trade in veterinary medicinal products through a web shop, you must also comply with the rules regarding internet trade in veterinary medicinal products.

As a pharmacist, you may also supply veterinary medicinal products in the UDA category alongside veterinary medicinal products in the URA category. However a veterinary prescription from a veterinarian is needed. Veterinary medicinal products in the UDA category, may not be offered via internet trade.

Are you a veterinarian? As a veterinarian you legally have a retail licence to supply veterinary medicinal products to keepers of animals for animals for which you provide medical care as part of the execution of your profession (Article 4.3 of the Veterinary Medicinal Products Decree 2022).

If you trade in veterinary medicinal products through a web shop, you must also comply with the rules regarding internet trade in veterinary medicinal products.

As a veterinarian, you may also supply veterinary medicinal products in the UDA category alongside veterinary medicinal products in the URA category. Veterinary medicinal products in the UDA category, may not be offered via internet trade.

If the activities exclusively fall under the concept of retail trade (delivery to animal keepers for those animals for which the veterinarian has taken care of medical care in the course of his profession), a veterinarian need not apply for a license. If a veterinarian also supplies veterinary medicines to animal holders for animals for which the veterinarian does not have the medical care, he must apply for an additional license.

Record-keeping for trade in prescription veterinary medicinal products

Under Article 103 of the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation, you must keep detailed records, in which the following information is stated for each transaction involving a veterinary medicinal product subject to a prescription:

• date of the transaction
• name of the veterinary medicinal product, including the pharmaceutical form and strength if necessary
• batch number
• quantity received or delivered
• name or company name and permanent address or registered place of business of the supplier in the event of purchase or of the recipient in the event of sale
• name and contact details of the veterinarian prescribing the medicinal product and, where appropriate, a copy of the veterinary prescription
• marketing authorisation number

As a retailer, you must carry out a detailed audit of the stock at least once a year. As part of this audit, you must compare the incoming and outgoing veterinary medicinal products with the medicines of which a stock is kept and keep track of any discrepancies. The results of this audit and the aforementioned records must be kept available for inspection for a period of five years.

These rules apply to all retailers, including veterinarians and pharmacists.

Rules on veterinary prescriptions

Article 105 of the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation includes various provisions, including that:

• A veterinary prescription for an antimicrobial medicinal product for metaphylaxis may only be issued following diagnosis of the infectious disease by a veterinarian.
• The veterinarian must be able to justify a veterinary prescription for antimicrobial medicinal products, in particular for metaphylaxis and for prophylaxis.
• A veterinary prescription may only be issued after a clinical examination or any other proper assessment of the health status of the animal or group of animals by a veterinarian.

The veterinary prescription must include at least the following elements:

• identification of the animal or groups of animals to be treated
• full name and contact details of the keeper or the owner of the animal
• date of issue
• full name and contact details of the veterinarian, including, if available, the professional number (CIBG number)
• signature or an equivalent electronic form of identification of the veterinarian
• name of the prescribed medicinal product, including its active substances
•  pharmaceutical form and strength
• prescribed quantity or the number of packs, including the size of the packs
• dosage regimen
• for food-producing animal species, withdrawal period even if such period is zero
• any warnings necessary to ensure the proper use including, where relevant, to ensure prudent use of antimicrobials
• a statement if a veterinary medicinal product is prescribed on the basis of the Cascade
• a statement if an antimicrobial medicinal product is prescribed preventively (prophylaxis) or for the treatment of an entire flock (metaphylaxis).

Furthermore:

• Additional requirements apply to antimicrobial agents. These are set out in Article 107 of the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation. Please find more information on this issue on the following page on the Netherlands Enterprise Agency website: RVO registratie bijhouden van diergeneesmiddelen.

• The prescribed quantity of medicinal products is limited to the quantity necessary for the treatment or therapy in question.
• Antimicrobial medicinal products for metaphylaxis or prophylaxis are only prescribed for a limited duration to cover the risk period.
• Veterinary prescriptions that comply with the foregoing rules are recognised throughout the Union. If you have received a prescription from your veterinarian, then you will also be able to purchase the medicine in another EU country.
• Veterinary prescriptions for antimicrobial medicinal products are valid for a period of five days from the date of issue.

Record-keeping by owners and keepers of food-producing animals

If you are an owner or keeper of food-producing animals, Article 108 of the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation states that owners or keepers of food-producing animals must keep records of the medicinal products they use and, if applicable, a copy of the veterinary prescription.

Additional information

Please find additional information on veterinary prescriptions on the following page on the Netherlands Enterprise Agency website: RVO registratie bijhouden van diergeneesmiddelen. If you are a retailer and have any additional questions about veterinary prescriptions, please contact the Veterinary Medicinal Products Unit.