The Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) - what is it?
In 2012 the VMD set up the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) in response to the public’s concerns about buying veterinary medicines online. We are accredited under the Scheme.
You can learn more about the work of the VMD and AIRS by going to the following link: http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/giao/public.aspx
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD):
The VMD is the UK government agency responsible for the controls on veterinary medicines in the UK, including their authorisation, manufacture, and supply.
Buying authorised veterinary medicines
We are approved by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) for the retail supply of veterinary medicines by a suitably qualified person (SQP). Our premises approval number is: 2041913. You can check our approval on the VMD’s website (http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/registers/approved-premises.aspx) or by contacting the VMD directly.
Authorisation and classification of veterinary medicines:
Any product in the UK that makes a veterinary medicinal claim must be authorised. You can tell if a veterinary medicine is authorised as it will include English language labelling that it’s important that you read and understand. The label will include a unique UK marketing authorisation number, which will appear in one of the following formats:
- Vm 04321/4001
- Vh 05467/4007
- EU/1/99/099/001-001
Alternatively, the product may include a statement "This veterinary medicine is marketed in accordance with Schedule 6 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations - Exemptions for small pet animals" or similar on the label and packaging.
There are four classifications of authorised veterinary medicines:
- Prescription-only Medicine – Veterinarian (abbreviated to POM-V)
- Prescription-only Medicine – Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) (abbreviated to POM-VPS)
- Non-Food Animal – Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) (abbreviated to NFA-VPS)
- Authorised Veterinary Medicine – General Sales List (abbreviated to AVM-GSL)
You can use the VMD’s Product Information Database to check if a product is authorised and its classification, or to search for a UK-authorised veterinary medicine. The search facility allows you to search by trade name, active substance, species, legal classification and many other options. Each product has a Summary of Product Characteristics (SPCs) that tells you all about the medicine.
For more information visit the VMD’s Product Information Database here: http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/ProductInformationDatabase/
What to do if your pet suffers an adverse reaction:
No medicine is risk-free and all medicines have the potential to cause adverse effects. Some of the adverse effects are known about and these are explained in the product’s SPC leaflet. Others that may only rarely occur or are specific to certain breeds or groups of animals may only be seen when the products are used more widely. If you suspect that you or your animal has had an adverse reaction to a veterinary medicine, or you think the medicine hasn’t worked as it should have done, contact your retailer in the first instance, alternatively you can contact the VMD using the form available via the link below:
Report a suspected problem with an animal medicine or microchip: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Complaints about veterinary medicines:
If you have a complaint about the quality of an itch veterinary medicine please contact us in the first instance. If a complaint regarding a veterinary medicine cannot be resolved, Itch will contact the VMD.
You can find more in our Terms & Conditions.