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 pet owners in Northern Ireland do not have (a) increased costs and (b) reduced access to medicines after 31 December 2025.

The Government appreciates that affordability and accessibility to obtain veterinary medicines for pet owners is of great importance. The Government also understand that online retailers may offer more affordable options. Through our extensive engagement across the supply chain, Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has heard positive news from several pharmaceutical companies on their commitments not to raise prices.

Also, through extensive engagement, VMD is 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. VMD is also working to ensure that the Veterinary Medicine Internal Market Scheme operates in a way that reflects how consumers obtain medicines at present.

In addition, the Government remains confident in its assessment that the vast majority of veterinary medicines will continue to be supplied and that the schemes can address supply gaps if they emerge.