A separate registration procedure applies for veterinary medicinal products for a number of specific pets. The products concerned are over-the-counter veterinary medicinal products. 

Under Article 2.1 of the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations 2022, there is a legal obligation in the Netherlands to register veterinary medicinal products for specific pets. These are animals that are kept exclusively as pets. They include aquarium or pond animals, ornamental fish, cage birds, homing pigeons, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits. They do not include ducks, geese or chickens, nor other pets or animals for consumption that are kept as pets.

Are you a manufacturer or wholesaler marketing non-prescription veterinary medicines in the Netherlands which are intended for specific pets? We previously informed you about the registration requirement via these newsletters (in Dutch).

Granting a registration

When assessing the product, we verify that it meets a number of criteria, including that it is effective when used properly and that it poses no risk to humans, animals or the environment. If this is the case, we will register your product.

Upon registration, we will assign an RSG NL number to your product. RSG NL stands for ‘Registration of veterinary medicinal products for Specific Pets (Gezelschapsdieren in Dutch) for the Netherlands market’. We will then add this RSG NL number to the Veterinary Medicinal Products Data Bank and the UPD, alongside the approved labelling and package leaflet text.

In the Veterinary Medicinal Products Data Bank, you can find RSG authorisations by using ‘Specifiek zoeken’ and under ‘type diergeneesmiddel’, select the option 'Alleen diergeneesmiddelen voor specifieke gezelschapsdieren'.

Products for which no application has been submitted

After 1 January 2025, it will no longer be legal to release new batches of products for which no application has been submitted. Advertising these products will also be illegal from that date.

In line with national agreements, the following conditions will apply to existing stock of already released batches of these products:

  • Wholesalers and retails may continue to supply these batches until (shortly before) the end of their shelf life. 
  • Pet owners and end users may continue to use these batches until the end of their shelf life.

Please note: It is never permitted to offer/supply products intended for specific pets outside the Netherlands, unless the product in question has an exemption under the legislation of the Member State concerned.

Please note: Veterinary medicines intended for specific pets offered in the Netherlands must always have an original Dutch label and package insert. It is not permitted to offer veterinary medicines intended for specific pets on the Dutch market in a language other than Dutch, even by relabeling the label, for example. They must also be manufactured in accordance with GMP requirements.

More information

You can also find more information on the Marketing authorisation exemption page. If you have any further questions, you can submit them to the Veterinary Medicinal Products Unit using our contact form. Select ‘Other’ as the subject of your question and indicate that it concerns the exemption for specific pets.