TITLE I

DEFINITIONS
Article 1
For the purposes of this Directive, the following terms shall bear the following meanings:
2.
Veterinary medicinal product
  1. any substance or combination of substances presented as having properties for treating or preventing disease in animals; or
  2. any substance or combination of substances which may be used in or administered to animals with a view either to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions by exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action, or to making a medical diagnosis.
4. Substance
- Any matter irrespective of origin which may be:
  - human, e.g.
human blood and human blood products;
  - animal, e.g.
micro-organisms, whole animals, parts of organs, animal secretions, toxins, extracts, blood products;
  - vegetable, e.g.
micro-organisms, plants, parts of plants, vegetable secretions, extracts;
  - chemical, e.g.
elements, naturally occurring chemical materials and chemical products obtained by chemical change or synthesis.
5. Pre-mix for medicated feedingstuffs
- Any veterinary medicinal product prepared in advance with a view to the subsequent manufacture of medicated feedingstuffs.
6. Medicated feedingstuffs
- Any mixture of a veterinary medicinal product or products and feed or feeds which is ready prepared for marketing and intended to be fed to animals without further processing, because of its curative or preventive properties or other properties as a medicinal product covered by point 2.
7. Immunological veterinary medicinal product
- A veterinary medicinal product administered to animals in order to produce active or passive immunity or to diagnose the state of immunity.
8.
Homeopathic veterinary medicinal product
- Any veterinary medicinal product prepared from substances called homeopathic stocks in accordance with a homeopathic manufacturing procedure described by the European Pharmacopoeia or, in the absence thereof, by the pharmacopoeias currently used officially in Member States. A homeopathic veterinary medicinal product may contain a number of principles.
9.
Withdrawal period
- The period necessary between the last administration of the veterinary medicinal product to animals, under normal conditions of use and in accordance with the provisions of this Directive, and the production of foodstuffs from such animals, in order to protect public health by ensuring that such foodstuffs do not contain residues in quantities in excess of the maximum residue limits for active substances laid down pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90.
10.
Adverse reaction
- A reaction to a veterinary medicinal product which is harmful and unintended and which occurs at doses normally used in animals for the prophylaxis, diagnosis or treatment of disease or to restore, correct or modify a physiological function.
11. Human adverse reaction
- A reaction which is noxious and unintended and which occurs in a human being following exposure to a veterinary medicine.
12. Serious adverse reaction
- An adverse reaction which results in death, is life-threatening, results in significant disability or incapacity, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect, or which results in permanent or prolonged signs in the animals treated.
13. Unexpected adverse reaction
- An adverse reaction, the nature, severity or outcome of which is not consistent with the summary of the product characteristics.
14. Periodic safety update reports
- The periodical reports containing the records referred to in Article 75.
15. Post-marketing surveillance studies
- Pharmacoepidemiological study or a clinical trial carried out in accordance with the terms of the marketing authorization, conducted with the aim of identifying and investigating a safety hazard relating to an authorized veterinary medicinal product.
16. Off-label use
- The use of a veterinary medicinal product that is not in accordance with the summary of the product characteristics, including the misuse and serious abuse of the product.
17. Wholesale dealing in veterinary medicinal products
- Any activity which includes the purchase, sale, import, export, or any other commercial transaction in veterinary medicinal products, whether or not for profit, except for:
  - the supply by a manufacturer of veterinary medicinal products manufactured by himself,
  - retail supplies of veterinary medicinal products by persons entitled to carry out such supplies in accordance with Article 66.
17a.
Representative of the marketing authorisation holder
- The person, commonly known as local representative, designated by the marketing authorisation holder to represent him in the Member State concerned.
18.
Agency
- The European Medicines Agency established by Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 .
19.
Risks relating to use of the product
  - any risk relating to the quality, safety and efficacy of the veterinary medicinal products as regards animal or human health;
  - any risk of undesirable effects on the environment.
20.
Risk/benefit balance
- An evaluation of the positive therapeutic effects of the veterinary medicinal product in relation to the risks as defined above.
21.
Veterinary prescription
- Any prescription for a veterinary medicinal product issued by a professional person qualified to do so in accordance with applicable national law.
22.
Name of veterinary medicinal product
- The name, which may be either an invented name not liable to confusion with the common name, or a common or scientific name accompanied by a trademark or the name of the marketing authorisation holder.
23.
Common name
- The international non-proprietary name recommended by the World Health Organisation, or, if one does not exist, the usual common name.
24.
Strength
- The content of active substances, expressed quantitatively per dosage unit, per unit of volume or weight according to the dosage form.
25.
Immediate packaging
- The container or any other form of packaging that is in direct contact with the medicinal product.
26.
Outer packaging
- The packaging into which is placed the immediate packaging.
27.
Labelling
- Information on the immediate or outer packaging.
28.
Package leaflet
- The leaflet containing information for the user that accompanies the medicinal product.
TITLE II

SCOPE
Article 2
1
This Directive shall apply to veterinary medicinal products, including pre-mixes for medicated feedingstuffs, intended to be placed on the market in Member States and prepared industrially or by a method involving an industrial process.
2
In cases of doubt, where, taking into account all its characteristics, a product may fall within the definition of a
‘
veterinary medicinal product
’
and within the definition of a product covered by other Community legislation, the provisions of this Directive shall apply.
3
Notwithstanding paragraph 1, this Directive shall also apply to active substances used as starting materials to the extent set out in Articles 50, 50a, 51 and 80 and additionally to certain substances that may be used as veterinary medicinal products that have anabolic, anti-infectious, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, hormonal or psychotropic properties to the extent set out in Article 68.
Article 3
1
This Directive shall not apply to:
a
medicated feedingstuffs as defined in Council Directive 90/167/EEC of 26 March 1990 laying down the conditions governing the preparation, placing on the market and use of medicated feedingstuffs in the Community ;
b
inactivated immunological veterinary medicinal products which are manufactured from pathogens and antigens obtained from an animal or animals from a holding and used for the treatment of that animal or the animals of that holding in the same locality;
c
veterinary medicinal products based on radio-active isotopes;
d
any additives covered by Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feedingstuffs
where they are incorporated in animal feedingstuffs and supplementary animal feedingstuffs in accordance with that Directive; and
e
without prejudice to Article 95, medicinal products for veterinary use intended for research and development trials.
However, medicated feedingstuffs referred to in subparagraph (a) may be prepared only from pre-mixes that have been authorised under this Directive.
2
Except for the provisions on the possession, prescription, dispensing and administration of veterinary medicinal products, this Directive shall not apply to:
a
any medicinal product prepared in a pharmacy in accordance with a veterinary prescription for an individual animal or a small group of animals, commonly known as the magistral formula; and
b
any medicinal product prepared in a pharmacy in accordance with the prescriptions of a pharmacopoeia and intended to be supplied directly to the end-user, commonly known as the officinal formula.
Article 4
1
Member States may provide that this Directive shall not apply to non-inactivated immunological veterinary medicinal products which are manufactured from pathogens and antigens obtained from an animal or animals from a holding and used for the treatment of that animal or the animals of that holding in the same locality.
2
In the case of veterinary medicinal products intended solely for aquarium fish, cage birds, homing pigeons, terrarium animals, small rodents, and ferrets and rabbits kept exclusively as pets, Member States may permit exemptions, in their territory, from the provisions in Articles 5 to 8, provided that such products do not contain substances the use of which requires veterinary control and that all possible measures are taken to prevent unauthorised use of the products for other animals.
TITLE III

MARKETING
CHAPTER 1

Marketing authorization
Article 5
1
No veterinary medicinal product may be placed on the market of a Member State unless a marketing authorisation has been granted by the competent authorities of that Member State in accordance with this Directive or a marketing authorisation has been granted in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 726/2004.
When a veterinary medicinal product has been granted an initial authorisation in accordance with the first subparagraph, any additional species, strengths, pharmaceutical forms, administration routes, presentations, as well as any variations and extensions, shall also be granted an authorisation in accordance with the first subparagraph or be included in the initial marketing authorisation. All these marketing authorisations shall be considered as belonging to the same global marketing authorisation, in particular for the purpose of the application of Article 13(1).
2
The marketing authorisation holder shall be responsible for the marketing of the medicinal product. The designation of a representative shall not relieve the marketing authorisation holder of his legal responsibility.
Article 6
1
A veterinary medicinal product may not be the subject of a marketing authorisation for the purpose of administering it to one or more food-producing species unless the pharmacologically active substances which it contains appear in Annexes I, II or III to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90.
2
If an amendment to the Annexes to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 so warrants, the marketing authorisation holder or, where appropriate, the competent authorities shall take all necessary measures to amend or revoke the marketing authorisation within 60 days of the date on which the amendment to the Annexes to that Regulation was published in the
Official Journal of the European Union
.
3
By way of derogation from paragraph 1, a veterinary medicinal product containing pharmacologically active substances not included in Annexes I, II or III to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 may be authorised for particular animals of the equidae family that have been declared, in accordance with Commission Decision 93/623/EEC of 20 October 1993 establishing the identification document (passport) accompanying registered equidae
and Commission Decision 2000/68/EC of 22 December 1999 amending Decision 93/623/EEC and establishing the identification of equidae for breeding and production
, as not being intended for slaughter for human consumption. Such veterinary medicinal products shall neither include active substances that appear in Annex IV to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 nor be intended for use in the treatment of conditions, as detailed in the authorised Summary of Product Characteristics, for which a veterinary medicinal product is authorised for animals of the equidae family.
Article 7
Where the health situation so requires, a Member State may authorise the marketing or administration to animals of veterinary medicinal products which have been authorized by another Member State in accordance with this Directive.
Article 8
In the event of serious epizootic diseases, Member States may provisionally allow the use of immunological veterinary medicinal products without a marketing authorisation, in the absence of a suitable medicinal product and after informing the Commission of the detailed conditions of use.
The Commission may avail itself of the option set out in the first paragraph when explicit provision is made for that option under Community rules concerning certain serious epizootic diseases.
If an animal is being imported from, or exported to, a third country and is thereby subject to specific binding health rules, a Member State may permit the use, for the animal in question, of an immunological veterinary medicinal product that is not covered by a marketing authorisation in the Member State in question but is authorised under the legislation of the third country. Member States shall take all appropriate measures concerning the supervision of the importation and the use of such immunological products.
Article 9
No veterinary medicinal product may be administered to animals unless the marketing authorization has been issued, except for the tests of veterinary medicinal products referred to in Article 12(3)(j) which have been accepted by the competent national authorities, following notification or authorization, in accordance with the national rules in force.
Article 10
1
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that, if there is no authorised veterinary medicinal product in a Member State for a condition affecting a non food-producing species, by way of exception, the veterinarian responsible may, under his/her direct personal responsibility and in particular to avoid causing unacceptable suffering, treat the animal concerned with:
a
a veterinary medicinal product authorised in the Member State concerned under this Directive or under Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 for use with another animal species, or for another condition in the same species; or
b
if there is no product as referred to in point (a), either:
1. a medicinal product authorised for human use in the Member State concerned in accordance with Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council or under Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, or
2. in accordance with specific national measures, a veterinary medicinal product authorised in another Member State in accordance with this Directive for use in the same species or in another species for the condition in question or for another condition; or
c
if there is no product as referred to in subparagraph (b), and within the limits of the law of the Member State concerned, a veterinary medicinal product prepared extemporaneously by a person authorised to do so under national legislation in accordance with the terms of a veterinary prescription.
The veterinarian may administer the medicinal product personally or allow another person to do so under the veterinarian's responsibility.
2
By way of derogation from Article 11, the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall also apply to the treatment by a veterinarian of an animal belonging to the equidae family provided that it has been declared, in accordance with Commission Decisions 93/623/EEC and 2000/68/EC, as not being intended for slaughter for human consumption.
3
By way of derogation from Article 11, the Commission shall establish a list of substances:
- which are essential for the treatment of equidae, or
- which bring added clinical benefit compared to other treatment options available for equidae,
and for which the withdrawal period shall not be less than six months according to the control mechanisms laid down in Decisions 93/623/EEC and 2000/68/EC.
Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
Article 11
1
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that, if there is no authorised veterinary medicinal product in a Member State for a condition affecting a food-producing species, by way of exception, the veterinarian responsible may, under his direct personal responsibility and in particular to avoid causing unacceptable suffering, treat the animals concerned on a particular holding with:
a
a veterinary medicinal product authorised in the Member State concerned under this Directive or under Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 for use with another animal species, or for another condition in the same species; or
b
if there is no product as referred to in point (a), either:
1. a medicinal product for human use authorised in the Member State concerned in accordance with Directive 2001/83/EC or under Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, or
2. a veterinary medicinal product authorised in another Member State in accordance with this Directive for use in the same species or in another food-producing species for the condition in question or for another condition; or
c
if there is no product as referred to in subparagraph (b), and within the limits of the law of the Member State concerned, a veterinary medicinal product prepared extemporaneously by a person authorised to do so under national legislation in accordance with the terms of a veterinary prescription.
The veterinarian may administer the medicinal product personally or allow another person to do so under the veterinarian's responsibility.
2
Paragraph 1 shall apply provided that pharmacologically active substances included in the medicinal product are listed in Annex I, II or III to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90, and that the veterinarian specifies an appropriate withdrawal period.
Unless the medicinal product used indicates a withdrawal period for the species concerned, the specified withdrawal period shall not be less than:
- 7 days for eggs,
- 7 days for milk,
- 28 days for meat from poultry and mammals including fat and offal,
- 500 degree-days for fish meat.
The Commission may modify these withdrawal periods or establish other withdrawal periods. In so doing, the Commission may differentiate between foodstuffs, species, routes of administration and annexes to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
3
With regard to homeopathic veterinary medicinal products in which active principles figure in Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90, the withdrawal period referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 shall be reduced to zero.
4
When a veterinarian has recourse to the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, he shall keep adequate records of the date of examination of the animals, details of the owner, the number of animals treated, the diagnosis, the medicinal products prescribed, the doses administered, the duration of treatment and the withdrawal periods recommended, and shall make these records available for inspection by the competent authorities for a period of at least five years.
5
Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Directive, Member States shall take all necessary measures concerning the import, distribution, dispensing of and information on the medicinal products which they permit for administration to food-producing animals in accordance with paragraph 1(b)(ii).
Article 12
1
For the purposes of obtaining a marketing authorisation in respect of a veterinary medicinal product, otherwise than under the procedure established by Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, an application shall be lodged with the competent authority of the Member State concerned.
In the case of veterinary medicinal products which are intended for one or more food-producing species but whose pharmacologically active substances have not yet been included, for the species in question, in Annexes I, II or III to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90, a marketing authorisation may not be applied for until after a valid application has been made for the establishment of maximum residue limits in accordance with that Regulation. At least six months shall elapse between a valid application for the establishment of maximum residue limits and an application for a marketing authorisation.
However, in the case of veterinary medicinal products referred to in Article 6(3), a marketing authorisation may be applied for without a valid application in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90. All the scientific documentation necessary for the demonstration of the quality, safety and efficacy of the veterinary medicinal product, as provided for in paragraph 3, shall be submitted.
2
A marketing authorisation may only be granted to an applicant established in the Community.
3
The application for marketing authorisation shall include all the administrative information and scientific documentation necessary for demonstrating the quality, safety and efficacy of the veterinary medicinal product in question. The file shall be submitted in accordance with Annex I and shall contain, in particular, the following information:
a
name or business name and permanent address or registered place of business of the person responsible for placing the product on the market and, if different, of the manufacturer or manufacturers involved and of the sites of manufacture;
b
name of veterinary medicinal product;
c
qualitative and quantitative particulars of all the constituents of the veterinary medicinal product, including its international non-proprietary name (INN) recommended by the WHO, where an INN exists, or its chemical name;
d
description of the method of manufacture;
e
therapeutic indications, contra-indications and adverse reactions;
f
dosage for the various species of animal for which the veterinary medicinal product is intended, its pharmaceutical form, method and route of administration and proposed shelf life;
g
reasons for any precautionary and safety measures to be taken when storing the veterinary medicinal product, administering it to animals and disposing of waste, together with an indication of potential risks that the veterinary medicinal product might pose to the environment, to human and animal health and to plants;
h
indication of the withdrawal period in the case of medicinal products intended for food-producing species;
i
description of the testing methods employed by the manufacturer;
j
results of:
- pharmaceutical (physico-chemical, biological or microbiological) tests,
- safety tests and residue tests,
- pre-clinical and clinical trials;
- tests assessing the potential risks posed by the medicinal product for the environment. This impact shall be studied and consideration shall be given on a case-by-case basis to specific provisions seeking to limit it.
k
a detailed description of the pharmacovigilance system and, where appropriate, the risk management system that the applicant will put in place;
l
a summary in accordance with Article 14 of the product characteristics, a mock-up of the immediate packaging and the outer packaging of the veterinary medicinal product, together with the package leaflet, in accordance with Articles 58 to 61;
m
a document showing that the manufacturer is authorised in his own country to produce veterinary medicinal products;
n
copies of any marketing authorisation obtained in another Member State or in a third country for the relevant veterinary medicinal product, together with a list of those Member States in which an application for authorisation submitted in accordance with this Directive is under examination. Copies of the summary of the product characteristics proposed by the applicant in accordance with Article 14 or approved by the competent authority of the Member State in accordance with Article 25 and copies of the package insert proposed, details of any decision to refuse authorisation, whether in the Community or a third country and the reasons for that decision. All this information shall be updated on a regular basis;
o
proof that the applicant has the services of a qualified person responsible for pharmacovigilance and has the necessary means for the notification of any adverse reaction suspected of occurring either in the Community or in a third country;
p
in the case of veterinary medicinal products intended for one or more food-producing species and containing one or more pharmacologically active substances not yet included, for the species in question, in Annexes I, II or III to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90, a document certifying that a valid application for the establishment of maximum residue limits has been submitted to the Agency in accordance with the aforementioned Regulation.
The documents and particulars relating to the results of the tests referred to in point (j) of the first subparagraph shall be accompanied by detailed and critical summaries, drawn up as specified in Article 15.
Article 13
1
By way of derogation from point (j) of the first subparagraph of Article 12(3), and without prejudice to the law relating to the protection of industrial and commercial property, the applicant shall not be required to provide the results of the safety and residue tests or of the pre-clinical and clinical trials if he can demonstrate that the medicinal product is a generic of a reference medicinal product which is or has been authorised under Article 5 for not less than eight years in a Member State or the Community.
A generic veterinary medicinal product authorised pursuant to this provision shall not be placed on the market until ten years have elapsed from the initial authorisation of the reference product.
The first subparagraph shall also apply when the reference medicinal product was not authorised in the Member State in which the application for the generic medicinal product is submitted. In this case, the applicant shall indicate in the application the Member State in which the reference medicinal product is or has been authorised. At the request of the competent authority of the Member State in which the application is submitted, the competent authority of the other Member State shall transmit, within a period of one month, confirmation that the reference medicinal product is or has been authorised together with the full composition of the reference product and if necessary other relevant documentation.
However, the 10-year period provided for in the second subparagraph shall be extended to 13 years in the case of veterinary medicinal products for fish or bees or other species designated by the Commission.
That measure, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
2
For the purposes of this Article:
a
‘
reference medicinal product
’
shall mean a product authorised within the meaning of Article 5 in accordance with the provisions of Article 12;
b
‘
generic medicinal product
’
shall mean a medicinal product which has the same qualitative and quantitative composition in active substances and the same pharmaceutical form as the reference medicinal product, and whose bioequivalence with the reference medicinal product has been demonstrated by appropriate bioavailability studies. The different salts, esters, ethers, isomers, mixtures of isomers, complexes or derivatives of an active substance shall be considered to be the same active substance, unless they differ significantly in properties with regard to safety and/or efficacy. In such cases, additional information intended to provide proof of the safety and/or efficacy of the various salts, esters or derivatives of an authorised active substance must be supplied by the applicant. The various immediate-release oral pharmaceutical forms shall be considered to be one and the same pharmaceutical form. Bioavailability studies need not be required of the applicant if he can demonstrate that the generic medicinal product meets the relevant criteria as defined in the appropriate detailed guidelines.
3
In cases where the veterinary medicinal product does not fall under the definition of a generic medicinal product set out in paragraph 2(b) or where bio-equivalence cannot be demonstrated through bioavailability studies or in the case of changes to the active substance(s), therapeutic indications, strength, pharmaceutical form or route of administration vis-à-vis the reference medicinal product, the results of the appropriate safety and residue tests and pre-clinical tests or clinical trials shall be provided.
4
Where a biological veterinary medicinal product which is similar to a reference biological veterinary medicinal product does not meet the conditions in the definition of generic medicinal products, owing to, in particular, differences relating to raw materials or in manufacturing processes of the biological veterinary medicinal product and the reference biological veterinary medicinal product, the results of appropriate pre-clinical tests or clinical trials relating to these conditions must be provided. The type and quantity of supplementary data to be provided must comply with the relevant criteria stated in Annex I and the related detailed guidelines. The results of other tests and trials from the reference medicinal product's dossier shall not be provided.
5
In the case of veterinary medicinal products intended for one or more food-producing species and containing a new active substance that has not been authorised in the Community by 30 April 2004 the ten-year period provided for in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 shall be extended by one year for each extension of the marketing authorisation to another food-producing species, if it is authorised within the five years following the granting of the initial marketing authorisation.
This period shall not, however, exceed a total of 13 years, for a marketing authorisation for four or more food-producing species.
The extension of the ten-year period to 11, 12, or 13 years for a veterinary medicinal product intended for food-producing species shall be granted only if the marketing authorisation holder also originally applied for determination of the maximum residue limits established for the species covered by the authorisation.
6
Conducting the necessary studies, tests and trials with a view to the application of paragraphs 1 to 5 and the consequential practical requirements shall not be regarded as contrary to patent-related rights or to supplementary-protection certificates for medicinal products.
Article 13a
1
By way of derogation from point (j) of the first subparagraph of Article 12(3), and without prejudice to the law on the protection of industrial and commercial property, the applicant shall not be required to provide the results of safety and residue tests or of pre-clinical tests or clinical trials if he can demonstrate that the active substances of the veterinary medicinal product have been in well-established veterinary use within the Community for at least ten years, with recognised efficacy and an acceptable level of safety in terms of the conditions set out in Annex I. In that event, the applicant shall provide appropriate scientific literature.
2
The assessment report published by the Agency following the evaluation of an application for the establishment of maximum residue limits in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 may be used in an appropriate manner as literature, particularly for the safety tests.
3
If an applicant makes use of scientific literature to obtain authorisation for a food-producing species, and submits, in respect of the same medicinal product and with a view to obtaining authorisation for another food-producing species, new residue studies in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90, together with further clinical trials, it shall not be permissible for a third party to use such studies or such trials pursuant to Article 13, for a period of three years from the grant of the authorisation for which they were carried out.
Article 13b
In the case of veterinary medicinal products containing active substances used in the composition of authorised veterinary medicinal products but not hitherto used in combination for therapeutic purposes, the results of safety and residue tests, if necessary, and new pre-clinical tests or new clinical trials relating to that combination shall be provided in accordance with point (j) of the first subparagraph of Article 12(3), but it shall not be necessary to provide scientific references relating to each individual active substance.
Article 13c
After the marketing authorisation has been granted, the marketing authorisation holder may allow use to be made of the pharmaceutical, safety and residues, pre-clinical and clinical documentation contained in the file for the veterinary medicinal product with a view to examining a subsequent application for a veterinary medicinal product having the same qualitative and quantitative composition in active substances and the same pharmaceutical form.
Article 13d
By way of derogation from point (j) of the first subparagraph of Article 12(3), and in exceptional circumstances with respect to immunological veterinary medicinal products, the applicant shall not be required to provide the results of certain field trials on the target species if these trials cannot be carried out for duly substantiated reasons, in particular on account of other Community provisions.
Article 14
The summary of the product characteristics shall contain, in the order indicated below, the following information:
1. name of the veterinary medicinal product followed by the strength and the pharmaceutical form;
2. qualitative and quantitative composition in terms of the active substances and constituents of the excipient, knowledge of which is essential for proper administration of the medicinal product. The usual common name or chemical description shall be used;
3. pharmaceutical form;
4. clinical particulars:
  1. target species,
  2. indications for use, specifying the target species,
  3. contra-indications,
  4. special warnings for each target species,
  5. special precautions for use, including special precautions to be taken by the person administering the medicinal product to the animals,
  6. adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness),
  7. use during pregnancy, lactation or lay,
  8. interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction,
  9. amounts to be administered and administration route,
  10. overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary,
  11. withdrawal periods for the various foodstuffs, including those for which the withdrawal period is zero;
5. pharmacological properties:
  1. pharmacodynamic properties,
  2. pharmacokinetic particulars;
6. pharmaceutical particulars:
  1. list of excipients,
  2. major incompatibilities,
  3. shelf life, when necessary after reconstitution of the medicinal product or when the immediate packaging is opened for the first time,
  4. special precautions for storage,
  5. nature and composition of immediate packaging,
  6. special precautions for the disposal of unused veterinary medicinal products or waste materials derived from the use of such products, if appropriate;
7. marketing authorisation holder;
8. marketing authorisation number(s);
9. date of the first authorisation or date of renewal of the authorisation;
10. date of revision of the text.
For authorisation under Article 13, those parts of the summary of product characteristics of the reference medicinal product referring to indications or dosage forms which were still covered by patent law at the time when a generic medicine was marketed need not be included.
Article 15
1
Applicants shall ensure that the detailed and critical summaries referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 12(3) are drafted and signed by persons with the requisite technical or professional qualifications, set out in a brief curriculum vitae, before being submitted to the competent authorities.
2
Persons with the technical or professional qualifications referred to in paragraph 1 shall justify any use made of the scientific literature referred to in Article 13a(1) in accordance with the conditions set out in Annex I.
3
A brief curriculum vitae of the persons referred to in paragraph 1 shall be appended to the detailed critical summaries.
CHAPTER 2

Particular provisions applicable to homeopathic veterinary medicinal products
Article 16
1
Member States shall ensure that homeopathic veterinary medicinal products manufactured and placed on the market within the Community are registered or authorised in accordance with Articles 17, 18 and 19, except where such veterinary medicinal products are covered by a registration or authorisation granted in accordance with national legislation on or before 31 December 1993. In the case of homeopathic medicinal products registered in accordance with Article 17, Article 32 and Article 33(1) to (3) shall apply.
2
Member States shall establish a simplified registration procedure for the homeopathic veterinary medicinal products referred to in Article 17.
3
By way of derogation from Article 10, homeopathic veterinary medicinal products may be administered to non-food producing animals under the responsibility of a veterinarian.
4
By way of derogation from Article 11(1) and (2), Member States shall permit the administration of homeopathic veterinary medicinal products intended for food-producing species the active constituents of which appear in Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 under the responsibility of a veterinarian. Member States shall take appropriate measures to control the use of veterinary homeopathic medicinal products registered or authorised in another Member State in accordance with this Directive for use in the same species.
Article 17
1
Without prejudice to the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 on the establishment of maximum residue limits of pharmacologically active substances intended for food-producing animals, only homeopathic veterinary medicinal products which satisfy all of the following conditions may be subject to a special, simplified registration procedure:
a
they are administered by a route described in the European Pharmacopoeia or, in the absence thereof, by the pharmacopoeias currently used officially in Member States;
b
no specific therapeutic indication appears on the labelling of the veterinary medicinal product or in any information relating thereto;
c
there is a sufficient degree of dilution to guarantee the safety of the medicinal product. In particular, the medicinal product shall not contain more than one part per
10 000
of the mother tincture.
If it appears justified in the light of new scientific evidence, the Commission may adapt points (b) and (c) of the first subparagraph. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
At the time of registration, Member States shall determine the classification for the dispensing of the medicinal product.
2
The criteria and rules of procedure provided for in Chapter 3, with the exception of Article 25, shall apply by analogy to the special, simplified registration procedure for homeopathic veterinary medicinal products referred to in paragraph 1, with the exception of the proof of therapeutic effect.
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Article 18
A special, simplified application for registration may cover a series of medicinal products derived from the same homeopathic stock or stocks. The following documents shall be included with the application in order to demonstrate, in particular, the pharmaceutical quality and the batch-to-batch homogeneity of the products concerned:
- scientific name or other name given in a pharmacopoeia of the homeopathic stock or stocks, together with a statement of the various routes of administration, pharmaceutical forms and degree of dilution to be registered,
- dossier describing how the homeopathic stock or stocks is/are obtained and controlled, and justifying its/their homeopathic nature, on the basis of an adequate bibliography; in the case of homeopathic veterinary medicinal products containing biological substances, a description of the measures taken to ensure the absence of pathogens,
- manufacturing and control file for each pharmaceutical form and a description of the method of dilution and potentisation,
- manufacturing authorization for the medicinal products concerned,
- copies of any registrations or authorizations obtained for the same medicinal products in other Member States,
- one or more mock-ups of the outer packaging and immediate packaging of the medicinal products to be registered,
- data concerning the stability of the medicinal product,
- proposed withdrawal period together with all requisite justification.
Article 19
1
Homeopathic veterinary medicinal products other than those referred to in Article 17(1) shall be authorised in accordance with Articles 12, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d and 14.
2
A Member State may introduce or retain on its territory specific rules for the safety tests and pre-clinical and clinical trials of homeopathic veterinary medicinal products intended for pet species and non-food-producing exotic species other than those referred to in Article 17(1), in accordance with the principles and characteristics of homeopathy as practised in that Member State. In this case, the Member State concerned shall notify the Commission of the specific rules in force.
Article 20
This Chapter shall not apply to immunological homeopathic veterinary medicinal products.
The provisions of titles VI and VII shall apply to homeopathic veterinary medicinal products.
CHAPTER 3

Procedure for marketing authorization
Article 21
1
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the procedure for granting a marketing authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product is completed within a maximum of 210 days after the submission of a valid application.
Applications for marketing authorisations for the same veterinary medicinal product in two or more Member States, shall be submitted in accordance with Articles 31 to 43.
2
Where a Member State notes that another marketing authorisation application for the same medicinal product is being examined in another Member State, the Member State concerned shall decline to assess the application and shall advise the applicant that Articles 31 to 43 apply.
Article 22
Where a Member State is informed, in accordance with point (n) of Article 12(3), that another Member State has authorised a veterinary medicinal product which is the subject of an application for authorisation in the Member State concerned, that Member State shall reject the application unless it was submitted in compliance with Articles 31 to 43.
Article 23
In order to examine the application submitted pursuant to Articles 12 to 13d, Member States' competent authorities:
1. shall check that the documentation submitted in support of the application complies with Articles 12 to 13d and ascertain whether the conditions for the issue of the marketing authorisation have been fulfilled;
2. may submit the medicinal product, its starting materials and if necessary intermediate products or other constituent materials for testing by an Official Medicines Control Laboratory or a laboratory that a Member State has designated for that purpose, in order to ensure that the testing methods employed by the manufacturer and described in the application documents, in accordance with point (i) of the first subparagraph of Article 12(3), are satisfactory;
3. may similarly check, in particular through consultation of a national or Community reference laboratory, that the analytical method used for detecting residues presented by the applicant for the purposes of Article 12(3)(j), second indent is satisfactory;
4. may, where appropriate, require the applicant to provide further information as regards the items listed in Articles 12, 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d. Where the competent authorities take this course of action, the time-limits specified in Article 21 shall be suspended until the further data required have been provided. Similarly, these time-limits shall be suspended for any period which the applicant may be given to provide oral or written explanations.
Article 24
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that:
1. the competent authorities ascertain that the manufacturers and importers of veterinary medicinal products from third countries are able to manufacture them in compliance with the details supplied pursuant to Article 12(3)(d), and/or to carry out control tests in accordance with the methods described in the application documents under Article 12(3)(i);
2. the competent authorities may authorize manufacturers and importers of veterinary medicinal products from third countries, where circumstances so justify, to have certain stages of manufacture and/or certain of the control tests referred to in (a) carried out by third parties; in such cases, checks by the competent authorities shall also be carried out in the establishments concerned.
Article 25
1
When granting a marketing authorisation, the competent authority shall inform the holder of the summary of product characteristics that it has approved.
2
The competent authority shall take all necessary measures to ensure that information concerning the veterinary medicinal product, and in particular the labelling and package leaflet, is in conformity with the summary of product characteristics approved when the marketing authorisation was granted or subsequently.
3
The competent authority shall make the marketing authorisation publicly available without delay, together with the summary of product characteristics for each veterinary medicinal product that it has authorised.
4
The competent authority shall draw up an assessment report and comments on the file as regards the results of the pharmaceutical, safety and residue tests and the pre-clinical and clinical trials of the veterinary medicinal product concerned. The assessment report shall be updated whenever new information becomes available which is of importance for the evaluation of the quality, safety or efficacy of the veterinary medicinal product concerned.
The competent authority shall make the assessment report and its reasons for the opinion publicly available without delay, after deleting any information of a commercially confidential nature.
Article 26
1
The marketing authorisation may require the holder to indicate on the immediate packaging and/or the outer wrapping and the package leaflet, where the latter is required, other particulars essential for safety or health protection, including any special precautions relating to use and any other warnings resulting from the clinical and pharmacological trials prescribed in Article 12(3)(j) and in Articles 13 to 13d or from experience gained during the use of the veterinary medicinal product once it has been marketed.
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
In exceptional circumstances, and following consultation with the applicant, the authorisation may be granted subject to a requirement for the applicant to introduce specific procedures, in particular concerning the safety of the veterinary medicinal product, notification to the competent authorities of any incident relating to its use, and action to be taken. Such authorisations may be granted only for objective, verifiable reasons. Continuation of the authorisation shall be linked to the annual reassessment of these conditions.
Article 27
1
After a marketing authorization has been issued, the holder must, in respect of the manufacturing methods and control methods provided for in Article 12(3)(d) and (i), take account of scientific and technical progress and introduce any changes that may be required to enable that veterinary medicinal product to be manufactured and checked by means of generally accepted scientific methods.
These changes shall be subject to the approval of the competent authorities of the Member State concerned.
2
The competent authority may require the applicant or the marketing authorisation holder to provide sufficient quantities of the substances to enable controls to be made on the identification of the presence of residues of the veterinary medicinal products in question.
At the competent authority's request, the marketing authorisation holder shall provide his technical expertise to facilitate the implementation of the analytical method for detecting residues of the veterinary medicinal products in the national reference laboratory designated under Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products .
3
The authorisation holder shall immediately supply the competent authority with any new information that might entail the amendment of the particulars or documents referred to in Articles 12(3), 13, 13a, 13b and 14 or Annex I.
In particular, he shall immediately inform the competent authority of any prohibition or restriction imposed by the competent authorities of any country in which the veterinary medicinal product is placed on the market and of any other new information which might influence the assessment of the benefits and risks of the veterinary medicinal product concerned.
In order to permit continuous assessment of the risk-benefit balance, the competent authority may at any time ask the marketing authorisation holder to forward data demonstrating that the risk-benefit balance remains favourable.
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
The marketing authorisation holder shall immediately inform the competent authorities, with a view to authorisation, of any alteration which he proposes to make to the particulars or documents referred to in Articles 12 to 13d.
Article 27a
After a marketing authorisation has been granted, the holder of the authorisation shall inform the competent authority of the authorising Member State of the date of the actual placing on the market of the veterinary medicinal product in that Member State, taking into account the various presentations authorised.
The holder shall also notify the competent authority if the product ceases to be placed on the market of the Member State, either temporarily or permanently. Such notification shall, otherwise than in exceptional circumstances, be made no less than two months before the interruption in the placing on the market of the product.
Upon request by the competent authority, particularly in the context of pharmacovigilance, the marketing authorisation holder shall provide the competent authority with all data relating to the volume of sales of the veterinary medicinal product, and any data in his possession relating to the volume of prescriptions.
Article 27b
The Commission shall adopt appropriate arrangements for the examination of variations to the terms of marketing authorisations granted in accordance with this Directive.
The Commission shall adopt these arrangements in the form of an implementing regulation. That measure, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
Article 28
1
Without prejudice to paragraphs 4 and 5, a marketing authorisation shall be valid for five years.
2
The authorisation may be renewed after five years on the basis of a re-evaluation of the risk-benefit balance.
To this end, the marketing authorisation holder shall submit a consolidated list of all documents submitted in respect of quality, safety and efficacy, including all variations introduced since the marketing authorisation was granted, at least six months before the marketing authorisation ceases to be valid in accordance with paragraph 1. The competent authority may require the applicant to submit the listed documents at any time.
3
Once renewed, the marketing authorisation shall be valid for an unlimited period, unless the competent authority decides, on justified grounds relating to pharmacovigilance, to proceed with one additional five-year renewal in accordance with paragraph 2.
4
Any authorisation that is not followed within three years of its granting by the actual placing on the market of the authorised veterinary medicinal product in the authorising Member State shall cease to be valid.
5
When an authorised veterinary medicinal product previously placed on the market in the authorising Member State is no longer actually present on the market in that Member State for a period of three consecutive years, the authorisation granted for that veterinary medicinal product shall cease to be valid.
6
The competent authority may, in exceptional circumstances, and on human or animal health grounds, grant exemptions from paragraphs 4 and 5. Such exemptions shall be duly justified.
Article 29
The granting of authorization shall not diminish the general legal liability of the manufacturer and, where appropriate, of the authorization holder.
Article 30
The marketing authorisation shall be refused if the file submitted to the competent authorities does not comply with Articles 12 to 13d and Article 15.
The authorisation shall also be refused if, after examination of the documents and particulars listed in Articles 12 and 13(1), it is clear that:
1. the risk-benefit balance of the veterinary medicinal product is, under the authorised conditions of use, unfavourable; when the application concerns a veterinary medicinal product for zootechnical use, particular regard shall be had to the benefits for animal health and welfare and to consumer safety; or
2. the product has no therapeutic effect or the applicant has not provided sufficient proof of such effect as regards the species of animal which is to be treated; or
3. its qualitative or quantitative composition is not as stated; or
4. the withdrawal period recommended by the applicant is not long enough to ensure that foodstuffs obtained from the treated animal do not contain residues which might constitute a health hazard to the consumer, or is insufficiently substantiated; or
5. the labelling or the package leaflet proposed by the applicant does not comply with this Directive; or
6. the veterinary medicinal product is offered for sale for a use prohibited under other Community provisions.
However, when a Community legislative framework is in the course of being adopted, the competent authority may refuse authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product where such action is necessary for the protection of public health, consumer or animal health.
The applicant or marketing authorisation holder shall be responsible for the accuracy of documents and data submitted.
CHAPTER 4

Mutual recognition procedure and decentralised procedure
Article 31
1
A coordination group shall be set up for the examination of any question relating to marketing authorisation of a veterinary medicinal product in two or more Member States in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Chapter. The Agency shall provide the secretariat of this coordination group.
2
The coordination group shall be composed of one representative per Member State appointed for a renewable period of three years. Members of the group may arrange to be accompanied by experts.
3
The coordination group shall draw up its own rules of procedure, which shall enter into force after a favourable opinion has been given by the Commission. These rules of procedure shall be made public.
Article 32
1
With a view to the granting of a marketing authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product in more than one Member State, the applicant shall submit an application based on an identical dossier in those Member States. The dossier shall contain all the administrative information and scientific and technical documentation described in Articles 12 to 14. The documents submitted shall include a list of Member States concerned by the application.
The applicant shall request one Member State to act as reference Member State and to prepare an assessment report in respect of the veterinary medicinal product in accordance with paragraphs 2 or 3.
Where appropriate, the assessment report shall contain an evaluation for the purposes of Article 13(5) or Article 13a(3).
2
If the veterinary medicinal product has already received a marketing authorisation at the time of application, the concerned Member States shall recognise the marketing authorisation granted by the reference Member State. To this end, the marketing authorisation holder shall request the reference Member State either to prepare an assessment report in respect of the veterinary medicinal product or, if necessary, to update any existing assessment report. The reference Member State shall prepare or update the assessment report within 90 days of receipt of a valid application. The assessment report together with the approved summary of product characteristics, labelling and package leaflet shall be forwarded to the concerned Member States and the applicant.
3
If the veterinary medicinal product has not received authorisation by the time of application, the applicant shall request the reference Member State to prepare a draft assessment report and drafts of the summary of product characteristics, labelling and package leaflet. The reference Member State shall prepare these drafts within 120 days of the receipt of a valid application and shall send them to the concerned Member States and the applicant.
4
Within 90 days after receipt of the documents referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3, the Member States concerned shall approve the assessment report, the summary of product characteristics, the labelling and the package leaflet and inform the reference Member State accordingly. The reference Member State shall record the agreement of all parties, close the procedure and inform the applicant accordingly.
5
Each Member State in which an application following paragraph 1 has been submitted shall adopt a decision in conformity with the approved assessment report, summary of product characteristics, labelling and package leaflet within 30 days after acknowledgement of the agreement.
Article 33
1
If a Member State cannot, within the period allowed in Article 32(4), agree with the assessment report, summary of product characteristics, labelling and package leaflet on grounds of a potential serious risk to human or animal health or to the environment, a detailed statement of the reasons shall be provided to the reference Member State, the other Member States concerned and the applicant. The points of disagreement shall be referred without delay to the coordination group.
If a Member State to which an application has been submitted invokes the reasons referred to in Article 71(1), it shall no longer be regarded as a Member State concerned by this Chapter.
2
The Commission shall adopt guidelines defining a potential serious risk for human or animal health or for the environment.
3
Within the coordination group, all Member States referred to in paragraph 1 shall use their best endeavours to reach agreement on the action to be taken. They shall provide the applicant with the opportunity to make his point of view known orally or in writing. If, within 60 days of the communication of the reasons for disagreement to the coordination group the Member States reach an agreement, the reference Member State shall record the agreement, close the procedure and inform the applicant accordingly. Article 32(5) shall apply.
4
If within the period of 60 days the Member States fail to reach an agreement, the Agency shall be immediately informed with a view to application of the procedure laid down in Articles 36, 37 and 38. The Agency shall be provided with a detailed description of the matters on which agreement could not be reached and the reasons for the disagreement. The applicant shall be provided with a copy of this information.
5
As soon as the applicant has been informed that the matter has been referred to the Agency, he shall forthwith forward to the Agency a copy of the information and documents referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 32(1).
6
In the case referred to in paragraph 4, the Member States that have approved the assessment report, summary of product characteristics, labelling and package leaflet of the reference Member State may, on request by the applicant, grant a marketing authorisation for the veterinary medicinal product without waiting for the outcome of the procedure laid down in Article 36. In that case, the authorisation granted shall be without prejudice to the outcome of that procedure.
Article 34
1
If two or more applications submitted in accordance with Articles 12 to 14 have been made for marketing authorisation for a particular veterinary medicinal product and Member States have adopted divergent decisions concerning the authorisation of that veterinary medicinal product, or suspension or revocation of authorisation, a Member State, or the Commission, or the marketing-authorisation holder may refer the matter to the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use, hereinafter referred to as
‘
the Committee
’
, for the application of the procedure laid down in Articles 36, 37 and 38.
2
With a view to promoting the harmonisation of veterinary medicinal products authorised in the Community, and to strengthening the efficiency of the provisions of Articles 10 and 11, Member States shall send to the coordination group, no later than 30 April 2005, a list of veterinary medicinal products for which a harmonised summary of product characteristics should be prepared.
The coordination group shall agree on a list of medicinal products, on the basis of proposals sent by Member States, and shall forward the list to the Commission.
The medicinal products on the list shall be subject to the provisions in paragraph 1 in accordance with a timetable established in cooperation with the Agency.
The Commission, acting in collaboration with the Agency, and taking into consideration the views of the interested parties, shall agree the final list and timetable.
Article 35
1
Member States or the Commission or the applicant or marketing authorisation holder shall, in specific cases where the interests of the Community are involved, refer the matter to the Committee for the application of the procedure laid down in Articles 36, 37 and 38 before a decision is reached on a request for a marketing authorisation or on the suspension or withdrawal of an authorisation, or on any other variations to the terms of a marketing authorisation which appear necessary, so as to take account in particular of the information collected in accordance with Title VII.
The Member State concerned or the Commission shall clearly identify the question which is referred to the Committee for consideration and shall inform the applicant or the marketing authorisation holder.
The Member State and the applicant or the marketing authorisation holder shall forward to the Committee all available information relating to the matter in question.
2
Where the referral to the Committee concerns a range of medicinal products or a therapeutic class, the Agency may limit the procedure to specific parts of the authorisation.
In that case, Article 39 shall apply to those medicinal products only if they are covered by the marketing authorisation procedure referred to in this Chapter.
Article 36
1
When reference is made to the procedure laid down in this Article, the Committee shall consider the matter concerned and shall issue a reasoned opinion within 60 days of the date on which the matter was referred to it.
However, in cases submitted to the Committee in accordance with Articles 34 and 35, this period may be extended by the Committee for a further period of up to 90 days, taking into account the views of the marketing authorisation holders concerned.
In an emergency, and on a proposal from its Chairman, the Committee may agree to a shorter deadline.
2
In order to consider the matter, the Committee shall appoint one of its members to act as rapporteur. The Committee may also appoint independent experts to advise it on specific questions. When appointing such experts, the Committee shall define their tasks and specify the time limit for the completion of these tasks.
3
Before issuing its opinion, the Committee shall provide the applicant or the marketing authorisation holder with an opportunity to present written or oral explanations within a time limit that it will specify.
The opinion of the Committee shall include the draft summary of product characteristics and the drafts of the labelling and package leaflet.
If it considers appropriate, the Committee may invite any other person to provide information relating to the matter before it.
The Committee may suspend the time limit referred to in paragraph 1 to allow the applicant or the marketing authorisation holder to prepare the explanations.
4
The Agency shall forthwith inform the applicant or the marketing authorisation holder when the opinion of the Committee is that:
- the application does not satisfy the criteria for authorisation, or
- the summary of product characteristics proposed by the applicant or the marketing authorisation holder in accordance with Article 14 should be amended, or
- the authorisation should be granted subject to conditions, with regard to conditions considered essential for the safe and effective use of the veterinary medicinal product including pharmacovigilance, or
- a marketing authorisation should be suspended, varied or revoked.
Within 15 days after receipt of the opinion, the applicant or the marketing authorisation holder may notify the Agency in writing of his intention to request a re-examination of the opinion. In that case, he shall forward to the Agency the detailed grounds for the request within 60 days after receipt of the opinion.
Within 60 days following receipt of the grounds for the request, the Committee shall re-examine its opinion in accordance with the fourth subparagraph of Article 62(1) of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004. The reasons for the conclusion reached shall be annexed to the assessment report referred to in paragraph 5 of this Article.
5
Within 15 days after its adoption, the Agency shall forward the final opinion of the Committee to Member States, the Commission and the applicant or the marketing authorisation holder, together with a report describing the assessment of the veterinary medicinal product and the reasons for its conclusions.
In the event of an opinion in favour of granting or maintaining a marketing authorisation, the following documents shall be annexed to the opinion:
a
a draft summary of the product characteristics, as referred to in Article 14; where necessary this will reflect the differences in the veterinary conditions in Member States;
b
any conditions affecting the authorisation within the meaning of paragraph 4;
c
details of any recommended conditions or restrictions with regard to the safe and effective use of the veterinary medicinal product; and
d
drafts of the labelling and package leaflet.
Article 37
Within 15 days after receipt of the opinion, the Commission shall prepare a draft of the decision to be taken in respect of the application, taking into account Community law.
In the event of a draft decision that envisages the granting of a marketing authorisation, the documents referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 36(5) shall be annexed.
If, exceptionally, the draft decision is not in accordance with the opinion of the Agency, the Commission shall also annex a detailed explanation of the reasons for the differences.
The draft decision shall be forwarded to Member States and the applicant or marketing authorisation holder.
Article 38
1
The Commission shall take a final decision in accordance with, and within 15 days after the end of, the procedure referred to in Article 89(3).
2
The rules of procedure of the Standing Committee set up by Article 89(1) shall be adjusted to take account of the tasks incumbent upon it in accordance with this Chapter.
These adjustments shall involve the following:
- except in cases referred to in the third paragraph of Article 37, the opinion of the Standing Committee shall be obtained in writing,
- Member States shall have 22 days to forward their written observations on the draft decision to the Commission. However, if a decision has to be taken urgently, a shorter time-limit may be set by the Chairman according to the degree of urgency involved. This time-limit shall not, otherwise than in exceptional circumstances, be shorter than 5 days,
- Member States shall have the option of submitting a written request that the draft decision be discussed in a plenary meeting of the Standing Committee.
Where, in the opinion of the Commission, the written observations of a Member State raise important new questions of a scientific or technical nature which have not been addressed in the opinion of the Agency, the Chairman shall suspend the procedure and refer the application back to the Agency for further consideration.
The provisions necessary for the implementation of this paragraph shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 89(2).
3
A decision as referred to in paragraph 1 shall be addressed to all Member States and communicated to the marketing authorisation holder or the applicant for information. The concerned Member States and the reference Member State shall either grant or withdraw marketing authorisation, or vary the terms of a marketing authorisation as necessary to comply with the decision within 30 days of its notification and shall refer to it. They shall inform the Commission and the Agency accordingly.
Article 39
1
Any application by the marketing authorization holder to vary a marketing authorization which has been granted in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter shall be submitted to all the Member States which have previously authorized the veterinary medicinal product concerned.
. . . . . . . . . .
The Commission shall adopt those arrangements in the form of an implementing regulation. That measure, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
2
In case of arbitration submitted to the Commission, the procedure laid down in Articles 36, 37 and 38 shall apply by analogy to variations made to marketing authorizations.
Article 40
1
Where a Member State considers that the variation of the terms of a marketing authorization which has been granted in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter or its suspension or withdrawal is necessary for the protection of human or animal health or the environment, the Member State concerned shall forthwith refer the matter to the Agency for the application of the procedures laid down in Articles 36, 37 and 38.
2
Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 35, in exceptional cases, where urgent action is essential to protect human or animal health or the environment, until a definitive decision is adopted, a Member State may suspend the marketing and the use of the veterinary medicinal product concerned on its territory. It shall inform the Commission and the other Member States no later than the following working day of the reasons for its action.
Article 41
Articles 39 and 40 shall apply by analogy to veterinary medicinal products authorized by Member States following an opinion of the Committee given in accordance with Article 4 of Directive 87/22/EEC before 1 January 1995.
Article 42
1
The Agency shall publish an annual report on the operation of the procedures laid down in this Chapter and shall forward it to the European Parliament and the Council for information.
2
At least every ten years the Commission shall publish a report on experience gained on the basis of the procedures provided for in this chapter and shall propose any amendments necessary to improve the procedures. The Commission shall submit this report to the European Parliament and the Council.
Article 43
Articles 33(4), (5) and (6) and 34 to 38 shall not apply to the homeopathic veterinary medicinal products referred to in Article 17.
Articles 32 to 38 shall not apply to the homeopathic veterinary medicinal products referred to in Article 19(2).
TITLE IV

MANUFACTURE AND IMPORTS
Article 44
1
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the manufacture of veterinary medicinal products in their territory is subject to the holding of an authorization. This manufacturing authorization shall likewise be required for veterinary medicinal products intended for export.
2
The authorization referred to in paragraph 1 shall be required both for total and partial manufacture and for the various processes of dividing up, packaging or presentation.
However, such authorization shall not be required for preparation, dividing up, changes in packaging or presentation where these processes are carried out solely for retail supply by pharmacists in dispensing pharmacies or by persons legally authorized in the Member States to carry out such processes.
3
The authorization referred to in paragraph 1 shall also be required for imports from third countries into a Member State; this Title and Article 83 shall apply to such imports in the same way as to manufacture.
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that veterinary medicinal products brought into their territory from a third country and destined for another Member State are accompanied by a copy of the authorization referred to in paragraph 1.
4
The Member State shall forward to the Agency a copy of the manufacturing authorisations referred to in paragraph 1. The Agency shall enter that information in the Community database referred to in Article 80(6).
Article 45
In order to obtain the manufacturing authorization, the applicant shall meet at least the following requirements:
1. he shall specify the veterinary medicinal products and pharmaceutical forms which are to be manufactured or imported and also the place where they are to be manufactured and/or controlled;
2. he shall have at his disposal, for the manufacture or import of the above, suitable and sufficient premises, technical equipment and control facilities complying with the legal requirements which the Member State concerned lays down as regards both manufacture and control and the storage of products, in accordance with Article 24;
3. he shall have at his disposal the services of at least one qualified person within the meaning of Article 52.
The applicant shall provide particulars in his application to establish his compliance with the above requirements.
Article 46
1
The competent authority of the Member State shall not issue the manufacturing authorization until it has established the accuracy of the particulars supplied pursuant to Article 45 by means of an inquiry carried out by its representatives.
2
In order to ensure that the requirements referred to in Article 45 are complied with, authorization may be made conditional on the fulfilment of certain obligations imposed either when authorization is granted or at a later date.
3
The authorization shall apply only to the premises specified in the application and to the veterinary medicinal products and pharmaceutical forms specified in that application.
Article 47
The Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the time taken for the procedure for granting the manufacturing authorization does not exceed 90 days from the day on which the competent authority receives the application.
Article 48
If the holder of the manufacturing authorization requests a change in any of the particulars referred to in Article 45, first paragraph, (a) and (b), the time taken for the procedure relating to this request shall not exceed 30 days. In exceptional cases, this period of time may be extended to 90 days.
Article 49
The competent authority of the Member States may require from the applicant further information concerning both the particulars supplied pursuant to Article 45 and the qualified person referred to in Article 52; where the competent authority concerned exercises this right, application of the time-limits referred to in Articles 47 and 48 shall be suspended until the additional data required have been supplied.
Article 50
The holder of a manufacturing authorization shall at least be obliged to:
1. have at his disposal the services of staff complying with the legal requirements existing in the Member State concerned as regards both manufacture and controls;
2. dispose of the authorized veterinary medicinal products only in accordance with the legislation of the Member States concerned;
3. give prior notice to the competent authority of any changes which he may wish to make to any of the particulars supplied pursuant to Article 45; the competent authority shall, in any event, be immediately informed if the qualified person referred to in Article 52 is replaced unexpectedly;
4. allow the representatives of the competent authority of the Member State concerned access to his premises at any time;
5. enable the qualified person referred to in Article 52 to carry out his duties, particularly by placing at his disposal all the necessary facilities;
6. comply with the principles and the guidelines on good manufacturing practice for medicinal products and use as starting materials only active substances which have been manufactured in accordance with the detailed guidelines on good manufacturing practice for starting materials;
7. keep detailed records of all veterinary medicinal products supplied by him, including samples, in accordance with the laws of the countries of destination. The following information at least shall be recorded in respect of each transaction, whether or not it is made for payment:
  - date,
  - name of the veterinary medicinal product,
  - quantity supplied,
  - name and address of the recipient,
  - batch number.
These records shall be available for inspection by the competent authorities for a period of at least three years.
Article 50a
1
For the purposes of this Directive, manufacturing active substances for use as starting materials shall include the complete or partial manufacture or the import of an active substance used as a starting material, as defined in Part 2, Section C of Annex I, and the various processes of dividing up, packaging or presentation prior to its incorporation in a veterinary medicinal product, including repackaging or re-labelling, such as carried out by a starting material distributor.
2
The Commission shall adopt any amendments which may be necessary in order to adapt the provisions of paragraph 1 to take account of scientific and technical progress.
Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
Article 51
The principles and guidelines of good manufacturing practice for veterinary medicinal products referred to in Article 50(f) shall be adopted by the Commission in the form of a Directive addressed to the Member States. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
Detailed guidelines shall be published by the Commission and revised as appropriate to take account of scientific and technical progress.
The principles of good manufacturing practice as regards the manufacturing of active substances for use as starting materials as referred to in Article 50(f) shall be adopted in the form of detailed guidelines.
The Commission shall also publish guidelines on the form and content of the authorisation referred to in Article 44(1), the reports referred to in Article 80(3) and the form and content of the certificate of good manufacturing practice referred to in Article 80(5).
Article 52
1
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the holder of the manufacturing authorization has permanently and continuously at his disposal the services of at least one qualified person who fulfils the conditions laid down in Article 53 and is responsible, in particular, for carrying out the duties specified in Article 55.
2
If he personally fulfils the conditions laid down in Article 53, the holder of the authorization may himself assume the responsibility referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 53
1
Member States shall ensure that the qualified person referred to in Article 52(1) fulfils the conditions of qualification referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3.
2
The qualified person shall be in possession of a diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications awarded on completion of a university course of study, or a course recognized as equivalent by the Member State concerned, extending over a period of at least four years of theoretical and practical study in one of the following scientific disciplines: pharmacy, medicine, veterinary science, chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry and technology, biology.
However, the minimum duration of the university course may be three and a half years where the course is followed by a period of theoretical and practical training of at least one year and includes a training period of at least six months in a pharmacy open to the public, corroborated by an examination at university level.
Where two university or recognized equivalent courses coexist in a Member State and where one of these extends over four years and the other over three years, the diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications awarded on completion of the three-year university course or its recognized equivalent shall be considered to fulfil the condition of duration referred to in the first subparagraph in so far as the diplomas, certificates or other evidence of formal qualifications awarded on completion of both courses are recognized as equivalent by the State in question.
The course shall include theoretical and practical tuition bearing upon at least the following basic subjects:
- experimental physics,
- general and inorganic chemistry,
- organic chemistry,
- analytical chemistry,
- pharmaceutical chemistry, including analysis of medicinal products,
- general and applied biochemistry (medical),
- physiology,
- microbiology,
- pharmacology,
- pharmaceutical technology,
- toxicology,
- pharmacognosy (study of the composition and effects of the active principles of natural substances of plant and animal origin).
Tuition in these subjects should be so balanced as to enable the person concerned to fulfil the obligations specified in Article 55.
In so far as certain diplomas, certificates or other evidence of formal qualifications mentioned in this paragraph do not fulfil the criteria laid down above, the competent authority of the Member State shall ensure that the person concerned provides evidence that he has, in the subjects involved, the knowledge required for the manufacture and control of veterinary medicinal products.
3
The qualified person shall have acquired practical experience over at least two years, in one or more undertakings which are authorized manufacturers, in the activities of qualitative analysis of medicinal products, of quantitative analysis of active substances and of the testing and checking necessary to ensure the quality of veterinary medicinal products.
The duration of practical experience may be reduced by one year where a university course lasts for at least five years and by a year and a half where the course lasts for at least six years.
Article 54
1
A person engaging, in a Member State, in the activities of the person referred to in Article 52(1) on the date on which Directive 81/851/EEC became applicable, without complying with the provisions of Article 53, shall be eligible to continue to engage in those activities within the Community.
2
The holder of a diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications awarded on completion of a university course — or a course recognized as equivalent by the Member State concerned — in a scientific discipline allowing him to engage in the activities of the person referred to in Article 52 in accordance with the laws of that State may — if he began his course prior to 9 October 1981 — be considered as qualified to carry out in that State the duties of the person referred to in Article 52, provided that he has previously engaged in the following activities for at least two years before 9 October 1991 in one or more undertakings with a manufacturing authorization; production supervision and/or qualitative and quantitative analysis of active substances, and the necessary testing and checking under the direct authority of a person as referred to in Article 52 to ensure the quality of veterinary medicinal products.
If the person concerned has acquired the practical experience referred to in the first subparagraph before 9 October 1971, a further one year's practical experience in accordance with the conditions referred to in the first subparagraph shall be completed by him immediately before he engages in such activities.
Article 55
1
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the qualified person referred to in Article 52 is, without prejudice to his relationship with the holder of the manufacturing authorization, responsible, in the context of the procedures referred to in Article 56, for ensuring that:
a
in the case of veterinary medicinal products manufactured within the Member State concerned, each batch of veterinary medicinal products has been manufactured and checked in compliance with the laws in force in that Member State and in accordance with the requirements of the marketing authorization;
b
in the case of veterinary medicinal products coming from third countries, even if manufactured in the Community, each production batch imported has undergone in a Member State a full qualitative analysis, a quantitative analysis of at least all the active substances, and all the other tests or controls necessary to ensure the quality of veterinary medicinal products in accordance with the requirements of the marketing authorisation.
Batches of veterinary medicinal products which have undergone such controls in a Member State shall be exempt from the above controls if they are placed on the market in another Member State, accompanied by the control reports signed by the qualified person.
2
In the case of veterinary medicinal products imported from a third country, where appropriate arrangements have been made by the Community with the exporting country to ensure that the manufacturer of the veterinary medicinal product applies standards of good manufacturing practice at least equivalent to those laid down by the Community and to ensure that the controls referred to under point (b) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 have been carried out in the exporting country, the qualified person may be relieved of responsibility for carrying out those controls.
3
In all cases, and particularly where the veterinary medicinal products are released for sale, the qualified person shall certify, in a register or equivalent document provided for the purpose, that each production batch satisfies the provisions of this Article; the said register or equivalent document shall be kept up to date as operations are carried out and shall remain at the disposal of the representatives of the competent authority for the period specified in the provisions of the Member State concerned and, in any event, for at least five years.
Article 56
Member States shall ensure that the obligations of qualified persons referred to in Article 52 are fulfilled, either by means of appropriate administrative measures or by making such persons subject to a professional code of conduct.
Member States may provide for the temporary suspension of such a person upon the commencement of administrative or disciplinary proceedings against him for failure to fulfil his obligations.
Article 57
The provisions of this Title shall apply to homeopathic veterinary medicinal products.
TITLE V

LABELLING AND PACKAGE INSERT
Article 58
1
Except in the case of the medicinal products referred to in Article 17(1), the competent authority shall approve the immediate packaging and outer packaging of veterinary medicinal products. Packaging shall bear the following information, which shall conform with the particulars and documents provided pursuant to Articles 12 to 13d and the summary of product characteristics, and shall appear in legible characters:
a
The name of the medicinal product, followed by its strength and pharmaceutical form. The common name shall appear if the medicinal product contains only one active substance and its name is an invented name;
b
A statement of the active substances expressed qualitatively and quantitatively per unit or according to the form of administration for a particular volume or weight, using the common names;
c
Manufacturer's batch number;
d
Marketing authorization number;
e
Name or corporate name and permanent address or registered place of business of the marketing authorisation holder and, where appropriate, of the representative designated by the marketing authorisation holder;
f
The species of animal for which the veterinary medicinal product is intended; the method and, if necessary, the route of administration. Space shall be provided for the prescribed dose to be indicated;
g
The withdrawal period for veterinary medicinal products to be administered to food-producing species, for all the species concerned and for the various foodstuffs concerned (meat and offal, eggs, milk, honey), including those for which the withdrawal period is zero;
h
Expiry date, in plain language;
i
Special storage precautions, if any;
j
Specific precautions relating to the disposal of unused medicinal products or waste derived from veterinary medicinal products, where appropriate, as well as a reference to any appropriate collection system in place;
k
Particulars required to be indicated pursuant to Article 26(1), if any;
l
The words
‘
For animal treatment only
’
or, in the case of the medicinal products referred to in Article 67, the words
‘
For animal treatment only — to be supplied only on veterinary prescription
’ .
2
The pharmaceutical form and the contents by weight, volume or number of dose-units need only be shown on the outer package.
3
The provisions of Part 1, A of Annex I, in so far as they concern the qualitative and quantitative composition of veterinary medicinal products in respect of active substances, shall apply to the particulars provided for in paragraph 1(b).
4
The particulars mentioned in paragraph 1(f) to (l) shall appear on the outer package and on the container of the medicinal products in the language or languages of the country in which they are placed on the market.
5
In the case of medicinal products that have been granted a marketing authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, Member States may permit or require that the outer packaging bear additional information concerning distribution, possession, sale or any necessary precautions, provided that such information is not in infringement of Community law or the terms of the marketing authorisation, and is not promotional.
This additional information shall appear in a box with a blue border to separate it clearly from the information referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 59
1
As regards ampoules, the particulars listed in the first paragraph of Article 58(1) shall be given on the outer package. On the immediate packaging, however, only the following particulars shall be necessary:
- name of veterinary medicinal product,
- quantity of the active substances,
- route of administration,
- manufacturer's batch number,
- date of expiry,
- the words ‘For animal treatment only’.
2
As regards small immediate packaging containing a single dose, other than ampoules, on which it is impossible to give the particulars mentioned in paragraph 1, the requirements of Article 58(1), (2) and (3) shall apply only to the outer package.
3
The particulars mentioned in the third and sixth indents of paragraph 1 shall appear on the outer package and on the immediate packaging of the medicinal products in the language or languages of the country in which they are placed on the market.
Article 60
Where there is no outer package, all the particulars which should feature on such a package pursuant to Articles 58 and 59 shall be shown on the immediate packaging.
Article 61
1
The inclusion of a package leaflet in the packaging of veterinary medicinal products shall be obligatory unless all the information required by this Article can be conveyed on the immediate packaging and the outer packaging. Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the package leaflet relates solely to the veterinary medicinal product with which it is included. The package leaflet shall be written in terms that are comprehensible to the general public and in the official language or languages of the Member State in which the medicinal product is marketed.
The first subparagraph shall not prevent the package leaflet from being written in several languages, provided that the information given is identical in all the languages.
Competent authorities may exempt labels and package leaflets for specific veterinary medicinal products from the obligation for certain particulars to appear and for the leaflet to be in the official language or languages of the Member State in which the product is placed on the market, when the product is intended to be administered only by a veterinarian.
2
The competent authorities shall approve package leaflets. Leaflets shall contain at least the following information, in the order indicated, which shall conform to the particulars and documents provided pursuant to Articles 12 to 13d and the approved summary of product characteristics:
a
name or corporate name and permanent address or registered place of business of the marketing authorisation holder and of the manufacturer and, where appropriate, of the representative of the marketing authorisation holder;
b
name of the veterinary medicinal product followed by its strength and pharmaceutical form. The common name shall appear if the product contains only one active substance and its name is an invented name. Where the medicinal product is authorised according to the procedure provided for in Articles 31 to 43 under different names in the Member States concerned, a list of the names authorised in each Member State;
c
the therapeutic indications;
d
contra-indications and adverse reactions in so far as these particulars are necessary for the use of the veterinary medicinal product;
e
the species of animal for which the veterinary medicinal product is intended, the dosage for each species, the method and route of administration and advice on correct administration, if necessary;
f
the withdrawal period, even if this is nil, in the case of veterinary medicinal products administered to food-producing animals;
g
special storage precautions, if any;
h
particulars required to be indicated pursuant to Article 26(1), if any;
i
special precautions for the disposal of unused medicinal products or waste materials from medicinal products, if any.
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Article 62
Where the provisions of this Title are not observed and a formal notice addressed to the person concerned has been ineffectual, Member States' competent authorities may suspend or revoke the marketing authorisation.
Article 63
The requirements of Member States concerning conditions of supply to the public, the marking of prices on medicinal products for veterinary use and industrial property rights shall not be affected by the provisions of this Title.
Article 64
1
Without prejudice to paragraph 2, homeopathic veterinary medicinal products shall be labelled in accordance with the provisions of this title and identified by the inclusion on their labels, in clearly legible form, of the words ‘homeopathic medicinal product for veterinary use’.
2
In addition to the clear mention of the words
‘
homeopathic veterinary medicinal product without approved therapeutic indications
’
, the labelling and, where appropriate, package leaflet for the homeopathic veterinary medicinal products referred to in Article 17(1) shall bear the following information and no other information:
- the scientific name of the stock or stocks followed by the degree of dilution, using the symbols of the pharmacopoeia used in accordance with point (8) of Article 1. If the homeopathic veterinary medicinal product is composed of more than one stock, the labelling may mention an invented name in addition to the scientific names of the stocks,
- name and address of the marketing authorization holder and, where appropriate, of the manufacturer,
- method of administration and, if necessary, route,
- expiry date, in clear terms (month, year),
- pharmaceutical form,
- contents of the sales presentation,
- special storage precautions, if any,
- target species,
- a special warning if necessary for the medicinal product,
- manufacturer's batch number,
- registration number.
TITLE VI

POSSESSION, DISTRIBUTION AND DISPENSING OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS
Article 65
1
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that wholesale distribution of veterinary medicinal products is subject to the holding of an authorization and to ensure that the time taken for the procedure for granting this authorization does not exceed 90 days from the date on which the competent authority receives the application.
Member States may exclude supplies of small quantities of veterinary medicinal products from one retailer to another from the scope of the definition of wholesale distribution.
2
In order to obtain the authorization for distribution, the applicant shall have at his disposal technically competent staff and suitable and sufficient premises complying with the requirements laid down in the Member State concerned as regards the storage and handling of veterinary medicinal products.
3
The holder of the authorization for distribution shall be required to keep detailed records. The following minimum information shall be recorded in respect of each incoming or outgoing transaction:
a
date;
b
precise identity of the veterinary medicinal product;
c
manufacturer's batch number, expiry date;
d
quantity received or supplied;
e
name and address of the supplier or recipient.
At least once a year a detailed audit shall be carried out to compare incoming and outgoing medicinal supplies with supplies currently held in stock, any discrepancies being recorded.
These records shall be available for inspection by the competent authorities for a period of at least three years.
3a
The holder of a distribution authorisation shall have an emergency plan guaranteeing the effective implementation of any recall operation ordered by the competent authorities or undertaken in cooperation with the manufacturer of the medicinal product in question or the holder of the marketing authorisation.
4
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that wholesalers supply veterinary medicinal products only to persons permitted to carry out retail activities in accordance with Article 66, or to other persons who are lawfully permitted to receive veterinary medicinal products from wholesalers.
5
Any distributor, not being the marketing authorisation holder, who imports a product from another Member State shall notify the marketing authorisation holder and the competent authority in the Member State to which the product will be imported of his intention to import it. In the case of products which have not been granted an authorisation pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, the notification to the competent authority shall be without prejudice to additional procedures provided for in the legislation of that Member State.
Article 66
1
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the retail supply of veterinary medicinal products is conducted only by persons who are permitted to carry out such operations by the legislation of the Member State concerned.
2
Any person permitted under paragraph 1 to supply veterinary medicinal products shall be required to keep detailed records for veterinary medicinal products that may be supplied only on prescription, the following information being recorded in respect of each incoming or outgoing transaction:
a
date;
b
precise identity of the veterinary medicinal product;
c
manufacturer's batch number;
d
quantity received or supplied;
e
name and address of the supplier or recipient;
f
where relevant, name and address of the prescribing veterinarian and a copy of the prescription.
At least once a year a detailed audit shall be carried out, and incoming and outgoing veterinary medicinal products shall be reconciled with products currently held in stock, any discrepancies being recorded.
These records shall be available for inspection by the competent authorities for a period of five years.
3
Member States may permit the supply on their territory of veterinary medicinal products for food-producing animals for which a veterinary prescription is required by or under the supervision of a person registered for this purpose who provides guarantees with respect to qualifications, record-keeping and reporting in accordance with national law. Member States shall notify the Commission of relevant provisions of national law. This provision shall not apply to the supply of veterinary medicinal products for the oral or parenteral treatment of bacterial infections.
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Article 67
Without prejudice to stricter Community or national rules relating to dispensing veterinary medicinal products and serving to protect human and animal health, a veterinary prescription shall be required for dispensing to the public the following veterinary medicinal products:
1. those products subject to official restrictions on supply or use, such as:
  - the restrictions resulting from the implementation of the relevant United Nations conventions on narcotic and psychotropic substances,
  - the restrictions on the use of veterinary medicinal products resulting from Community law;
2. veterinary medicinal products for food-producing animals.
However, Member States may grant exemptions from this requirement according to criteria established by the Commission. The establishment of those criteria, being a measure designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
Member States may continue to apply national provisions until either:
  1. the date of application of the decision adopted in accordance with the first subparagraph; or
  2. 1 January 2007
, if no such decision has been adopted by
31 December 2006
;
3. those products in respect of which special precautions must be taken by the veterinarian in order to avoid any unnecessary risk to:
  - the target species,
  - the person administering the products to the animal,
. . . . .
  - the environment;
4. those products intended for treatments or pathological processes which require a precise prior diagnosis or the use of which may cause effects which impede or interfere with subsequent diagnostic or therapeutic measures;
5. official formula, within the meaning of Article 3(2)(b), intended for food-producing animals.
Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that, in the case of medicinal products supplied only on prescription, the quantity prescribed and supplied shall be restricted to the minimum amount required for the treatment or therapy concerned.
In addition, a prescription shall be required for new veterinary medicinal products containing an active substance that has been authorised for use in a veterinary medicinal product for fewer than five years.
Article 68
1
Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that only persons empowered under their national legislation in force possess or have under their control veterinary medicinal products or substances which may be used as veterinary medicinal products that have anabolic, anti-infectious, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, hormonal or psychotropic properties.
2
Member States shall maintain a register of manufacturers and dealers permitted to be in possession of active substances which may be used in the manufacture of veterinary medicinal products having the properties referred to in paragraph 1. Such persons must maintain detailed records of all dealings in substances which may be used in the manufacture of veterinary medicinal products and keep these records available for inspection by the competent authorities for a period of at least three years.
3
The Commission shall adopt any amendments to the list of substances referred to in paragraph 1.
Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
Article 69
Member States shall ensure that the owners or keepers of food-producing animals can provide proof of purchase, possession and administration of veterinary medicinal products to such animals for five years after their administration, including when the animal is slaughtered during the five-year period.
In particular, Member States may require the maintenance of a record giving at least the following information:
1. date;
2. name of the veterinary medicinal product;
3. quantity;
4. name and address of the supplier of the medicinal product;
5. identification of the animals treated.
Article 70
By way of derogation from Article 9 and without prejudice to Article 67, Member States shall ensure that veterinarians providing services in another Member State can take with them and administer to animals small quantities of veterinary medicinal products not exceeding daily requirements other than immunological veterinary medicinal products which are not authorised for use in the Member State in which the services are provided (hereinafter:
‘
host Member State
’
), provided that the following conditions are satisfied:
1. the authorization to place the product on the market provided for in Articles 5, 7 and 8 has been issued by the competent authorities of the Member State in which the veterinarian is established;
2. the veterinary medicinal products are transported by the veterinarian in the original manufacturer's packaging;
3. the veterinary medicinal products intended for administration to food-producing animals have the same qualitative and quantitative composition in terms of active substances as the medicinal products authorized in accordance with Articles 5, 7 and 8 in the host Member State;
4. the veterinarian providing services in another Member State acquaints himself with the good veterinary practices applied in that Member State and ensures that the withdrawal period specified on the labelling of the veterinary medicinal product concerned is complied with, unless he could reasonably be expected to know that a longer withdrawal period should be specified to comply with these good veterinary practices;
5. the veterinarian shall not furnish any veterinary medicinal product to the owner or keeper of the animals treated in the host Member State unless this is permissible on the basis of the rules of the host Member State; in this case he shall, however, supply only in relation to animals under his care and only the minimum quantities of veterinary medicinal product necessary to complete the treatment of animals concerned on that occasion;
6. the veterinarian shall be required to keep detailed records of the animals treated, the diagnosis, the veterinary medicinal products administered, the dosage administered, the duration of treatment and the withdrawal period applied. These records shall be available for inspection by the competent authorities of the host Member State for a period of at least three years;
7. the overall range and quantity of veterinary medicinal products carried by the veterinarian shall not exceed that generally required for the daily needs of good veterinary practice.
Article 71
1
In the absence of specific Community legislation concerning the use of immunological veterinary medicinal products for the eradication or control of animal disease, a Member State may, in accordance with its national legislation, prohibit the manufacture, import, possession, sale, supply and/or use of immunological veterinary medicinal products on the whole or part of its territory if it is established that:
a
the administration of the product to animals will interfere with the implementation of a national programme for the diagnosis, control or eradication of animal disease, or will cause difficulties in certifying the absence of contamination in live animals or in foodstuffs or other products obtained from treated animals;
b
the disease to which the product is intended to confer immunity is largely absent from the territory in question.
The Member State may also invoke the provisions of the first subparagraph in order to withhold marketing authorisation in accordance with a decentralised procedure as provided for in Articles 31 to 43.
2
The competent authorities of the Member States shall inform the Commission of all instances in which the provisions of paragraph 1 are applied.
TITLE VII

PHARMACOVIGILANCE
Article 72
1
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to encourage the reporting to the competent authorities of suspected adverse reactions to veterinary medicinal products.
2
Member States may impose specific requirements on veterinary practitioners and other health-care professionals in respect of the reporting of suspected serious or unexpected adverse reactions and human adverse reactions.
Article 73
In order to ensure the adoption of appropriate and harmonised regulatory decisions concerning the veterinary medicinal products authorised within the Community, having regard to information obtained about suspected adverse reactions to veterinary medicinal products under normal conditions of use, Member States shall administer a veterinary pharmacovigilance system. This system shall be used to collect information useful in the surveillance of veterinary medicinal products, with particular reference to adverse reactions in animals and in human beings relating to the use of veterinary medicinal products, and to evaluate such information scientifically.
Such information shall be collated with available data on the sale and prescription of veterinary medicinal products.
Member States shall ensure that suitable information collected within this system is communicated to other Member States and the Agency. This information shall be recorded in the database referred to in point (k) of the second subparagraph of Article 57(1) of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 and shall be permanently accessible to all Member States and without delay to the public.
This system also takes into account any available information related to the lack of expected efficacy, off-label use, investigations of the validity of the withdrawal period and on potential environmental problems, arising from the use of the product, interpreted in accordance with the Commission guidelines referred to in Article 77(1), which may have an impact on the evaluation of their benefits and risks.
Article 73a
The management of funds intended for activities connected with pharmacovigilance, the operation of communication networks and market surveillance shall be under the permanent control of the competent authorities in order to guarantee their independence.
Article 74
The marketing authorization holder shall have permanently and continuously at his disposal an appropriately qualified person responsible for pharmacovigilance.
That qualified person shall reside in the Community and shall be responsible for the following:
1. the establishment and maintenance of a system which ensures that information about all suspected adverse reactions which are reported to the personnel of the company, including its representatives, is collected and collated in order to be accessible at least at one point within the Community;
2. the preparation for the competent authorities of the reports referred to in Article 75, in such form as may be laid down by those authorities, in accordance with the guidance referred to in Article 77(1);
3. ensuring that any request from the competent authorities for the provision of additional information necessary for the evaluation of the benefits and risks afforded by a veterinary medicinal product is answered fully and promptly, including the provision of information about the volume of sales or prescriptions of the veterinary medicinal product concerned;
4. the provision to the competent authorities, of any other information relevant to the evaluation of the benefits and risks afforded by a veterinary medicinal product, including appropriate information on post-marketing surveillance studies.
Article 75
1
The marketing authorisation holder shall maintain detailed records of all suspected adverse reactions occurring within the Community or in a third country.
Save in exceptional circumstances, these reactions shall be communicated electronically in the form of a report in accordance with the guidelines referred to in Article 77(1).
2
The marketing authorisation holder shall record all suspected serious adverse reactions and human adverse reactions relating to the use of veterinary medicinal products that are brought to his attention, and report them promptly to the competent authority of the Member State on whose territory the incident occurred, and no later than 15 days following receipt of the information.
The marketing authorisation holder shall also record all suspected serious adverse reactions and human adverse reactions related to the use of veterinary medicinal products of which he can reasonably be expected to have knowledge, and report them promptly to the competent authority of Member State on whose territory the incident occurred, and no later than 15 days following receipt of the information.
3
The marketing authorisation holder shall ensure that all suspected serious unexpected adverse reactions, human adverse reactions and any suspected transmission via a veterinary medicinal product of any infectious agent occurring on the territory of a third country are reported promptly in accordance with the guidelines referred to in Article 77(1), so that they are available to the Agency and the competent authorities of the Member States in which the veterinary medicinal product is authorised, and no later than 15 days following the receipt of the information.
4
By way of derogation from paragraphs 2 and 3, in the case of veterinary medicinal products which are covered by Directive 87/22/EEC, have benefited from the authorisation procedures under Articles 31 and 32 of this Directive or have been the subject of the procedures provided for in Articles 36, 37 and 38 of this Directive, the marketing authorisation holder shall additionally ensure that all suspected serious adverse reactions and human adverse reactions occurring in the Community are reported in such a way so as to be accessible to the reference Member State or a competent authority designated as reference Member State. The reference Member State shall assume responsibility for the analysis and follow-up of any such adverse reactions.
5
Unless other requirements have been laid down as a condition for the granting of the marketing authorisation or subsequently as indicated in the guidelines referred to in Article 77(1), reports of all adverse reactions shall be submitted to the competent authorities in the form of a periodic safety update report, immediately upon request or at least every six months after authorisation until the placing on the market. Periodic safety update reports shall also be submitted immediately upon request or at least every six months during the first two years following the initial placing on the market and once a year for the following two years. Thereafter, the reports shall be submitted at three-yearly intervals, or immediately upon request.
The periodic safety update reports shall include a scientific evaluation of the risk-benefit balance of the veterinary medicinal product.
6
The Commission may amend paragraph 5 in the light of the experience gained from its operation.
Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
7
Following the granting of a marketing authorisation, the holder of such authorisation may request the amendment of the periods referred to in paragraph 5 of this Article in accordance with the procedure laid down by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1084/2003 .
8
The holder of a marketing authorisation may not communicate information relating to pharmacovigilance concerns to the general public in relation to its authorised veterinary medicinal product without giving prior or simultaneous notification to the competent authority.
In any case, the marketing authorisation holder shall ensure that such information is presented objectively and is not misleading.
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that a marketing authorisation holder who fails to discharge these obligations is subject to effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties.
Article 76
1
The Agency, in collaboration with Member States and the Commission, shall set up a data-processing network to facilitate the exchange of pharmacovigilance information regarding veterinary medicinal products marketed in the Community in order to allow the competent authorities to share the information at the same time.
2
Making use of the network foreseen in the first paragraph, Member States shall ensure that reports of suspected serious adverse reactions and human adverse reactions, in accordance with the guidance referred to in Article 77(1), that have taken place on their territory are immediately made available to the Agency and the other Member States, and in any case within 15 calendar days of their notification, at the latest.
3
The Member States shall ensure that reports of suspected serious adverse reactions and human adverse reactions, that have taken place on their territory are immediately made available to the marketing authorisation holder, and in any case within 15 calendar days of their notification at the latest.
Article 77
1
In order to facilitate the exchange of information about pharmacovigilance within the Community, the Commission, in consultation with the Agency, Member States and the interested parties, shall draw up guidance on the collection, verification and presentation of adverse reaction reports, including technical requirements for electronic exchange of veterinary pharmacovigilance information in accordance with internationally agreed terminology.
In accordance with those guidelines, the marketing authorisation holder shall use internationally agreed veterinary medical terminology for the transmission of reports on adverse reactions.
The Commission shall publish the guidelines, which shall take account of international harmonisation work achieved in the field of pharmacovigilance.
2
For the interpretation of the definitions referred to in Article 1 points 10 to 16 and principles outlined in this title, the marketing authorisation holder and the competent authorities shall refer to the detailed guidance referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 78
1
Where, as a result of the evaluation of veterinary pharmacovigilance data, a Member State considers that a marketing authorization should be suspended, withdrawn or varied to restrict the indications or availability, amend the posology, add a contraindication or add a new precautionary measure, it shall forthwith inform the Agency, the other Member States and the marketing authorization holder.
2
If urgent action is necessary for protecting human or animal health, the Member State concerned may suspend the marketing authorisation of a veterinary medicinal product, provided that the Agency, the Commission and the other Member States are informed on the following working day at the latest.
3
When the Agency is informed in accordance with paragraphs 1 or 2, it shall give its opinion as soon as possible, according to the urgency of the matter.
On the basis of this opinion, the Commission may request all Member States in which the veterinary medicinal is marketed to take temporary measures immediately.
Final measures shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 89(3).
Article 79
The Commission shall adopt any amendments which may be necessary to update Articles 72 to 78 to take account of scientific and technical progress.
Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
TITLE VIII

SUPERVISION AND SANCTIONS
Article 80
1
The competent authority of the Member State concerned shall ensure, by means of repeated inspections and, if necessary, unannounced inspections, and where appropriate, by asking an Official Medicines Control Laboratory or a laboratory designated for that purpose to conduct tests on samples, that the legal requirements relating to veterinary medicinal products are complied with.
The competent authority may also carry out unannounced inspections at the premises of manufacturers of active substances used as starting materials for veterinary medicinal products, and of the premises of the marketing authorisation holder whenever it considers that there are grounds for suspecting non-compliance with the provisions of Article 51. Such inspections may also be carried out at the request of another Member State, the Commission or the Agency.
In order to verify whether the data submitted in order to obtain a conformity certificate comply with the monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia, the standardisation body for nomenclatures and quality norms within the meaning of the Convention relating to the elaboration of a European Pharmacopoeia
(European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines) may ask the Commission or the Agency to request such an inspection when the starting material concerned is the subject of a European Pharmacopoeia monograph.
The competent authority of the Member State concerned may carry out inspections of starting material manufacturers at the manufacturer's own request.
Such inspections shall be carried out by authorised representatives of the competent authority who shall be empowered to:
a
inspect manufacturing or trading establishments and any laboratories entrusted by the holder of the manufacturing authorisation with the task of carrying out control tests pursuant to Article 24;
b
take samples including with a view to an independent analysis by an Official Medicines Control Laboratory or by a laboratory designated for that purpose by a Member State;
c
examine any documents relating to the object of the inspection, subject to the provisions in force in the Member States on 9 October 1981 placing restrictions on these powers with regard to the description of the manufacturing method;
d
inspect the premises, records and documents of marketing authorisation holders or any firms performing the activities described in Title VII, and in particular Articles 74 and 75 thereof, on behalf of a marketing authorisation holder.
2
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the manufacturing processess used in the manufacture of immunological veterinary medicinal products are completely validated and batch-to-batch consistency is ensured.
3
The authorised representatives of the competent authority shall report after each of the inspections mentioned in paragraph 1 on whether the principles and guidelines on good manufacturing practice referred to in Article 51 or, where appropriate, the requirements set out in Title VII, are being complied with. The inspected manufacturer or market authorisation holder shall be informed of the content of such reports.
4
Without prejudice to any arrangements which may have been concluded between the Community and a third country, a Member State, the Commission or the Agency may require a manufacturer established in a third country to undergo an inspection as referred to in paragraph 1.
5
Within 90 days after an inspection as referred to in paragraph 1, a certificate of good manufacturing practice shall be issued to the manufacturer if the inspection established that the manufacturer in question is complying with the principles and guidelines on good manufacturing practice as provided for by Community law.
In the event of an inspection carried out at the request of the European Pharmacopoeia, a certificate of compliance with the monograph shall be issued, if appropriate.
6
Member States shall enter the certificates of good manufacturing practice which they issue in a Community database managed by the Agency on behalf of the Community.
7
If the outcome of the inspection as referred to in paragraph 1 is that the manufacturer does not comply with the principles and guidelines of good manufacturing practice as provided for by Community legislation, the information shall be entered in the Community database as referred to in paragraph 6.
Article 81
1
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the marketing authorization holder and, where appropriate, the holder of the manufacturing authorization furnish proof of the control tests carried out on the veterinary medical product and/or on the constituents and intermediate products of the manufacturing process, in accordance with the methods laid down for the purposes of marketing authorization.
2
For the purposes of implementing paragraph 1, Member States may require the marketing authorization holder for immunological veterinary medicinal products to submit to the competent authorities copies of all the control reports signed by the qualified person in accordance with Article 55.
The marketing authorization holder for immunological veterinary medicinal products shall ensure that an adequate number of representative samples of each batch of veterinary medical products is held in stock at least up to the expiry date, and provide samples promptly to the competent authorities on request.
Article 82
1
Where it considers it necessary for reasons of human or animal health, a Member State may require the marketing authorisation holder for an immunological veterinary medicinal product to submit samples of batches of the bulk product and/or veterinary medicinal product for control by an Official Medicines Control Laboratory before the product is put into circulation.
2
On request by the competent authorities, the marketing authorisation holder shall promptly supply the samples referred to in paragraph 1, together with the reports of the control referred to in Article 81(2).
The competent authority shall inform all the other Member States in which the veterinary medicinal product is authorised as well as the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines of its intention to control batches or the batch in question.
In such cases, the competent authorities of another Member State shall not apply the provisions of paragraph 1.
3
After studying the control reports referred to in Article 81(2), the laboratory responsible for the control shall repeat, on the samples provided, all the tests carried out by the manufacturer on the finished product, in accordance with the relevant provisions shown in the dossier for marketing authorisation.
The list of tests to be repeated by the laboratory responsible for the control shall be restricted to justified tests, provided that all Member States concerned, and if appropriate the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines, agree to this.
For immunological veterinary medicinal products authorised under Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, the list of tests to be repeated by the control laboratory may be reduced only after agreement by the Agency.
4
All Member States concerned shall recognise the results of the tests.
5
Unless the Commission is informed that a longer period is necessary to conduct the tests, Member States shall ensure that this control is completed within 60 days of receipt of the samples.
The competent authority shall notify the other Member States concerned, the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines, the marketing authorisation holder and, if appropriate, the manufacturer, of the results of the tests within the same period of time.
If a competent authority concludes that a batch of a veterinary medicinal product is not in conformity with the control report of the manufacturer or the specifications provided for in the marketing authorisation, it shall take all the necessary measures vis-a-vis the marketing authorisation holder and the manufacturer, where appropriate, and shall inform accordingly the other Member States in which the veterinary medicinal product is authorised.
Article 83
1
Member States' competent authorities shall suspend, revoke, withdraw or vary marketing authorisations when it is clear that:
a
the risk-benefit assessment of the veterinary medicinal product is, under the authorised conditions of use, unfavourable, particular regard being had to the benefits for animal health and welfare and to consumer safety, when the authorisation concerns a veterinary medicinal product for zootechnical use;
b
the veterinary medicinal product does not have any therapeutic effect on the species of animal for which the treatment is intended;
c
its qualitative and quantitative composition is not as stated;
d
the recommended withdrawal period is inadequate to ensure that foodstuffs obtained from the treated animal do not contain residues which might constitute a health hazard to the consumer;
e
the veterinary medicinal product is offered for sale for a use which is prohibited by other community provisions;
However, pending Community rules, the competent authorities may refuse to grant authorization for a veterinary medicinal product where such action is necessary for the protection of public, consumer or animal health;
f
information given in the application documents pursuant to Articles 12 to 13d and 27 is incorrect;
g
the control tests referred to in Article 81(1) have not been carried out.
h
the obligation referred to in Article 26(2) has not been fulfilled.
However, when a Community legislative framework is in the course of being adopted, the competent authority may refuse authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product where such action is necessary for the protection of public health, consumer and animal health.
2
Marketing authorisations may be suspended, revoked, withdrawn or varied when it is established that:
a
the particulars supporting the application, as provided for in Articles 12 to 13d, have not been amended in accordance with Article 27(1) and (5);
b
any new information as referred to in Article 27(3) has not been communicated to the competent authorities.
Article 84
1
Without prejudice to Article 83, Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that supply of a veterinary medicinal product is prohibited and that the medicinal product concerned is withdrawn form the market where:
a
it is clear that the risk-benefit assessment of the veterinary medicinal product is, under the authorised conditions of use, unfavourable, particular regard being had to the benefits for animal health and welfare and to the safety and health benefits for the consumer, when the authorisation concerns a veterinary medicinal product for zootechnical use;
b
the veterinary medicinal product has no therapeutic effect on the species of animal for which the treatment was intended;
c
the qualitative and quantitative composition of the veterinary medicinal product is not as stated;
d
the recommended withdrawal period is inadequate to ensure that foodstuffs obtained from the treated animal do not contain residues which might constitute a health hazard to the consumer;
e
the control tests referred to in Article 81(1) have not been carried out, or any other requirement or obligation relating to the grant of the manufacturing authorization referred to in Article 44(1) has not been complied with.
2
The competent authority may confine the prohibition on supply and withdrawal from the market solely to the contested production batches.
Article 85
1
The competent authority of a Member State shall suspend or withdraw the manufacturing authorization for a category of preparations or for all preparations if any of the requirements laid down in Article 45 are no longer met.
2
The competent authority of a Member State may, in addition to the measures provided for in Article 84, either suspend manufacture or imports of veterinary medicinal products from third countries or suspend or withdraw the manufacturing authorization for a category of preparations or for all preparations in the event of non-compliance with the provisions regarding manufacture or imports from third countries.
3
Member States shall prohibit the advertising to the general public of veterinary medicinal products that:
a
in accordance with Article 67, are available on veterinary prescription only; or
b
contain psychotropic drugs or narcotics, such as those covered by the United Nations Conventions of 1961 and 1971.
Article 86
The provisions of this Title shall apply to homeopathic veterinary medicinal products.
Article 87
Member States shall take appropriate measures to encourage veterinarians and other professionals concerned to report to the competent authorities any adverse reaction of veterinary medicinal products.
TITLE IX

STANDING COMMITTEE
Article 88
The Commission shall adopt any changes which are necessary in order to adapt Annex I to take account of technical progress.
Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 89(2a).
Article 89
1
The Commission shall be assisted by a Standing Committee on Veterinary Medicinal Products for the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directives on the Removal of Technical Barriers to Trade in the Veterinary Medicinal Products Sector, (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Standing Committee’.
2
Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.
2a
Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
3
Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at one month.
4
The rules of procedure of the Standing Committee shall be made public.
TITLE X

GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 90
Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the competent authorities concerned communicate the appropriate information to each other, particularly regarding compliance with the requirements adopted for the authorisations referred to in Article 44, for the certificates referred to in Article 80(5) or for authorisation to place products on the market.
Upon reasoned request, Member States shall forthwith communicate the reports referred to in Article 80(3) to the competent authorities of another Member State.
The conclusions reached following an inspection as referred to in Article 80(1) carried out by the inspectors of the Member State concerned shall be valid for the Community.
However, by way of exception, if a Member State has not been able, for serious reasons of human or animal health, to accept the conclusions of an inspection as referred to in Article 80(1), that Member State shall forthwith inform the Commission and the Agency. The Agency shall inform the Member States concerned.
When the Commission is informed of such serious reasons, it may, after consulting the Member States concerned, ask the inspector of the competent supervisory authority to carry out a new inspection; the inspector may be accompanied by two other inspectors from Member States that are not parties to the disagreement.
Article 91
1
Each Member State shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the Agency is informed immediately of decisions granting marketing authorization and of all decisions refusing or withdrawing marketing authorization, cancelling a decision refusing or withdrawing marketing authorization, prohibiting supply or withdrawing a product from the market, together with the reasons on which such decisions are based.
2
The marketing authorization holder shall be obliged to notify the Member States forthwith of any action taken by him to suspend the marketing of a veterinary medicinal product or to withdraw a product from the market, together with the reasons for such action if it concerns the effectiveness of the veterinary medicinal product or the protection of public health. Member States shall ensure that this information is brought to the attention of the Agency.
3
Member States shall ensure that appropriate information about actions taken pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 which may affect the protection of health in third countries is forthwith brought to the attention of the relevant international organizations, with a copy to the Agency.
Article 92
Member States shall communicate to each other all the information necessary to guarantee the quality and safety of homeopathic veterinary medicinal products manufactured and marketed within the Community, and in particular the information referred to in Articles 90 and 91.
Article 93
1
At the request of the manufacturer or exporter of veterinary medicinal products, or the authorities of an importing third country, Member States shall certify that such manufacturer is in possession of the manufacturing authorization. When issuing such certificates, Member States shall comply with the following conditions:
a
they shall have regard to the prevailing administrative arrangements of the World Health Organization;
b
for veterinary medicinal products intended for export which are already authorized in their territory, they shall supply the summary of the product characteristics as approved in accordance with Article 25 or, in the absence thereof, an equivalent document.
2
Where the manufacturer is not in possession of an authorization to place the product on the market, he shall provide the authorities responsible for establishing the certificate referred to in the first paragraph with a declaration explaining why such authorization is not available.
Article 94
Any decision referred to in this Directive, taken by the competent authorities of the Member States, may only be taken on the grounds set out in this Directive and shall state in detail the reasons on which it is based.
Such a decision shall be notified to the party concerned who shall at the same time be informed of the remedies available to him under current legislation and the time allowed for seeking such remedies.
Decisions to grant or revoke a marketing authorisation shall be made publicly available.
Article 95
Member States shall not permit foodstuffs for human consumption to be taken from test animals unless the competent authorities have established an appropriate withdrawal period. The withdrawal period shall either:
1. be at least as laid down in Article 11(2), including, where appropriate, a safety factor reflecting the nature of the substance being tested; or
2. if maximum residue limits have been established by the Community in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90, ensure that this maximum limit will not be exceeded in foodstuffs.
Article 95a
Member States shall ensure that appropriate collection systems are in place for veterinary medicinal products that are unused or expired.
Article 95b
When a veterinary medicinal product is to be authorised in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 and the Scientific Committee in its opinion refers to recommended conditions or restrictions with regard to the safe and effective use of the veterinary medicinal product as provided for in Article 34(4)(d) of that Regulation, a decision addressed to Member States shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Articles 37 and 38 of this Directive, for the implementation of those conditions or restrictions.
TITLE XI

FINAL MEASURES
Article 96
Directives 81/851/EEC, 81/852/EEC, 90/677/EEC and 92/74/EEC referred to in Annex II, Part A are repealed, without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States in respect of the deadline for transposition laid down in Annex II, Part B.
The reference made to the said Repealed Directives shall be construed as references to this Directive and should be read in accordance with the correlation table set out in Annex III.
Article 97
This Directive enters into force on the 20 th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Article 98
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
OJ L 136, 30.4.2004, p. 1 .
OJ L 92, 7.4.1990, p. 42 .
OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, p. 1
. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1756/2002 (
OJ L 265, 3.10.2002, p. 1
).
OJ L 298, 3.12.1993, p. 45
. Decision as amended by Commission Decision 2000/68/EC (
OJ L 23, 28.1.2000, p. 72
).
OJ L 23, 28.1.2000, p. 72 .
OJ L 125, 23.5.1996, p. 10
. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (
OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1
).
OJ L 159, 27.6.2003, p. 1 .
OJ L 158, 25.6.1994, p. 19 .
Deleted by Directive 2004/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 amending Directive 2001/82/EC on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products.
Substituted by Directive 2004/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 amending Directive 2001/82/EC on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products.
Inserted by Directive 2004/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 amending Directive 2001/82/EC on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products.
Substituted by Regulation (EC) No 470/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009 laying down Community procedures for the establishment of residue limits of pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin, repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 and amending Directive 2001/82/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance).
Substituted by Regulation (EC) No 596/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 adapting a number of instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty to Council Decision 1999/468/EC with regard to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny Adaptation to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny — Part Four.
Inserted by Directive 2009/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 amending Directive 2001/82/EC and Directive 2001/83/EC, as regards variations to the terms of marketing authorisations for medicinal products (Text with EEA relevance).
Deleted by Directive 2009/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 amending Directive 2001/82/EC and Directive 2001/83/EC, as regards variations to the terms of marketing authorisations for medicinal products (Text with EEA relevance).
Inserted by Regulation (EC) No 596/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 adapting a number of instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty to Council Decision 1999/468/EC with regard to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny Adaptation to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny — Part Four.