Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he will extend the regulation of pharmaceuticals and chemicals to ensure that they are licensed only where they do not have a negative impact on the natural environment.

On 1 December 2025, Defra published the revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2025. The EIP 2025 is the department’s long-term plan for improving the natural environment and enjoyment of it. It includes prioritised delivery actions to minimise environmental risks posed by chemicals. The EIP sets out Defra’s approach to managing chemicals risks.

All authorised veterinary medicines undergo a robust environmental risk assessment under internationally agreed guidelines. Products are approved only where benefits outweigh risks, including environmental impacts. While current frameworks assume negligible exposure for companion animals, emerging evidence is informing international updates, with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate contributing research to inform this process.