The Department of Agriculture is examining the option of breaking the link between prescribing and dispensing veterinary medicines in the implementation of a new EU directive which will place restrictions on the sale of certain products.
From January 2022, the new laws will require farmers to get prescription from vets to use antiparasitics (eg doses for treating worms/liver fluke) for livestock.
Currently, hundreds of trained ‘Responsible Persons’ provide a similar farm drug supply service to farmers at more than 900 licensed merchant and co-op stores and 300 pharmacies nationwide.
Speaking at a recent Oireachtas Agriculture Committee meeting on the topic, the Department’s Colm Forde said: “If all of these medicines are now going to require a prescription, the best way of ensuring a competitive supply chain is to break the link between prescribing and dispensing.
HAIRDRESSERS and beauty therapists are cautiously optimistic about being allowed to reopen on April 12. Businesses say they are delighted to have been given something to work towards but are concerned that this date when all essential retail and personal care can welcome customers back could be put back. Leanne Forsey, who owns the award-winning Guyz n Dollz salon in Wharton Road, said: At least we ve got a date rather than last time when we were left in limbo. Messages have been coming in thick and fast from customers wanting to book but I have not opened our appointments yet. If all goes well and things are going in the right direction, I will open our diary.