Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on measures to control the spread of avian influenza in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Each of the three devolved Governments, along with the UK Government, is an integral part of the decision-making process for avian influenza control. They are core members of the regular chief veterinary officer strategic stocktakes and they also sit on the Animal Disease Policy Group (a UK-wide policy decision making group).
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to take steps to end the use of the lethal dose 50% test (LD50) in animal experiments.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. The Replacing Animals in Science strategy uses a ‘baskets’ approach to group animal tests according to how ready they are for replacement, based on the maturity of potential alternative methods. In addition, the Government-funded National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) has ongoing work to replace, reduce and refine LD/LC50 tests.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate may also require animal testing in either the development of new veterinary medicines or for routine product quality control to ensure that only safe and effective veterinary medicines are marketed and supplied.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to promote the use of locally produced food and drink.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The food strategy recognises the key role that regional and local food systems can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes. Defra wants to create an environment that champions UK food cultures and celebrates British food. The strategy is an opportunity to celebrate the food we make which is uniquely British, combining our heritage and the expertise and innovation of our food businesses.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government will take to ensure that pet owners in Northern Ireland are not faced with increased cost or reduced access to familiar medicines following changes to veterinary medicine supply arrangements after 31 December 2025.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We appreciate that affordability and accessibility to obtain veterinary medicines for pet owners is of great importance. We also understand that online retailers may offer more affordable options. Through our extensive engagement across the supply chain, we have heard positive news from several pharmaceutical companies on their commitments not to raise prices. Also, through our engagements, we are aware of multiple companies who are either already established in Northern Ireland or are planning to set up as online retailers in Northern Ireland. This is expected to ensure medicines remain available through these online channels. We are also working to ensure that the Veterinary Medicine Internal Market Scheme operates in a way that reflects how consumers obtain medicines at present.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what direct engagement the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has undertaken with frontline veterinary practices in Northern Ireland to support practical preparedness for the end of the veterinary medicines grace period on 31 December 2025.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Our stakeholder engagement continues to be extensive. In addition to recent in person meetings in Northern Ireland and webinars planned for the end of November, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate meet monthly with wholesalers based in Northern Ireland and relevant industry bodies such as the British Veterinary Association, Northern Ireland Veterinary Association and the Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practicing in Northern Ireland. Through these channels we have been able to address issues and concerns that stakeholders are facing which is reflected in the guidance that was recently updated.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure cross-departmental decision-making between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Northern Ireland Office in the implementation of the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme and the Veterinary Medicines Health Situations Scheme from 1 January 2026.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Cross-departmental decision-making arrangements are an internal Government matter.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what arrangements are being put in place to ensure clear and timely public communication to farmers and pet owners in Northern Ireland on any changes to the availability or prescribing of veterinary medicines after 31 December 2025.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has been taking steps to support businesses and end-users in preparation ahead of 1 January. This includes communications to the farming sector and pet owners. In addition to guidance, we published a manual with specific information for pet owners and farmers. We also visited Northern Ireland in early November and met several stakeholders, and much feedback is that many businesses are in a good place for the 1 January. Planned engagement over the next month via webinars will provide further information.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that veterinary practices and farm businesses in Northern Ireland receive advance notification of changes to the availability of veterinary medicines.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Guidance was issued in a timely manner; first published in June and updated in October and November. Updated guidance included specific references to vets and Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs).
Continued access to veterinary medicines for Northern Ireland is a government priority and the department will continue to engage extensively with stakeholders across the supply chain regarding the supply of veterinary medicines beyond 2025. This includes the Veterinary Medicines Working Group, in person in Northern Ireland and through meetings with industry bodies and businesses, including vets and farming businesses. Where it concerns key industry bodies, such as the Northern Ireland Veterinary Association, we have established regular meetings into the new year.
The published guidance targets the full sector breadth, including specific information for farmers and vets. Defra will host webinars later this month and intend to provide further information on products suitable for the Veterinary Medicines Health Situation Scheme next month.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the proposed changes to veterinary medicines supply routes will impact the ability of pet owners in Northern Ireland to fill veterinary prescriptions from online veterinary pharmacies when online pharmacies delivering veterinary medicines are located in Great Britain.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We appreciate that accessibility to obtain veterinary medicines for pet owners is of great importance. Through our extensive engagements, we are aware of multiple companies who are either already established in Northern Ireland or are planning to set up as online retailers in Northern Ireland. This is expected to ensure medicines remain available through these online channels. We are also working to ensure that the Veterinary Medicine Internal Market Scheme operates in a way that reflects how consumers obtain medicines at present.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to ensure that Northern Ireland producers are not placed at a structural disadvantage relative to counterparts in Great Britain as a result of the new veterinary medicines supply arrangements.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We appreciate that accessibility to obtain veterinary medicines for pet owners is of great importance. Through our extensive engagements, we are aware of multiple companies who are either already established in Northern Ireland or are planning to set up as online retailers in Northern Ireland. This is expected to ensure medicines remain available through these online channels. We are also working to ensure that the Veterinary Medicine Internal Market Scheme operates in a way that reflects how consumers obtain medicines at present.