Specific requirements for veterinary medicines
Market authorisation for veterinary medicines is granted on the same principles and criteria as the human medicines. However, the distribution systems differ.
Different animal species vary greatly, and thus each species may need specific medicines for the same disease. The research and marketing of veterinary medicines is, therefore, more complicated compared to human medicines.
Unlike human medicines, the prices of veterinary medicines are not regulated while the Finnish Medicines Agency applies the same marketing authorisation procedure and the pharmacovigilance principles to both medicine groups. The selection of veterinary medicines comprises about 270 trade names.
The distribution of veterinary medicines has particular characteristics:
- The medicines go from the wholesalers to either the pharmacies or directly to the veterinarians.
- The veterinarians can sell the medicines while visiting their patients.
- Veterinary medicines are not eligible for reimbursements.
Authorities and legislation
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is responsible for the legislation on veterinary medicines. It is the supreme authority to guide and control the implementation and compliance with the acts and ensuing regulations.
The Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira is the central administrative authority for the implementation and compliance with the animal health acts and regulations and is in charge, for example, for the issues related to the medication of production animals.
Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea follows the instructions issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, guiding and controlling the compliance with the animal health acts and regulations by the pharmaceutical plants, wholesalers and pharmacies.
PIF’s operative focuses in 2012
In the Medicines Policy documents, veterinary medicines are discussed from both the animal medicine and the public health perspectives. The year 2012 will see the very first steps in the electronuc services in veterinary medicine regulations.
The updated EU veterinary medicine directive is progressing in the EU institutions and will be published in late 2012.
- We participate in the development of issues concerning veterinary medicines.
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