Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021

10 Power to make regulations about veterinary medicines

(1) The appropriate authority may by regulations make provision specified in sections 11 and 12 amending or supplementing the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/2033).

(2) In making regulations under subsection (1), the appropriate authority’s overarching objective must be to promote one or more of the following—

(a) the health and welfare of animals;

(b) the health and safety of the public;

(c) the protection of the environment.

(3) In considering whether regulations under subsection (1) would contribute to this objective, the appropriate authority must have regard to—

(a) the safety of veterinary medicines;

(b) the availability of veterinary medicines;

(c) the likelihood of the relevant part of the United Kingdom being seen as a favourable place in which to—

(i) develop veterinary medicines, or

(ii) manufacture or supply veterinary medicines.

(4) Where regulations under subsection (1) may have an impact on the safety of veterinary medicines, the appropriate authority may make the regulations only if the authority considers that the benefits of doing so outweigh the risks.

(5) In subsection (3)(c), “relevant part of the United Kingdom” means—

(a) so far as the regulations relate to England and Wales and Scotland, those parts of the United Kingdom, and

(b) so far as the regulations relate to Northern Ireland, that part of the United Kingdom.

(6) In this Part, “appropriate authority” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales and Scotland, the Secretary of State, and

(b) in relation to Northern Ireland—

(i) the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, or

(ii) the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and the Secretary of State acting jointly.