The Veterinary Medicines (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2024

New regulation 10A

8.  After regulation 10 insert—

“Inducements and hospitality

10A.— (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (4), where veterinary medicinal products are being promoted to persons qualified to prescribe or supply veterinary medicinal products, no person may supply, offer or promise to any person any gift, pecuniary advantage or benefit in kind unless it is inexpensive and relevant to the practice of veterinary medicine or pharmacy.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) do not prevent any person offering hospitality (including the payment of travelling or accommodation expenses) at events for purely professional or scientific purposes to persons qualified to prescribe or supply veterinary medicinal products, provided that—

(a) it is subordinate to the main scientific objective of the event; and

(b) it is offered only to animal health professionals.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), no person may offer hospitality (including the payment of travelling or accommodation expenses) at a meeting or event held for the promotion of veterinary medicinal products unless—

(a) it is subordinate to the main purpose of the meeting or event, and

(b) the person to whom it is offered is an animal health professional.

(4) Nothing in this regulation affects measures or trade practices relating to prices, margins or discounts which were in existence on the date on which the Veterinary Medicines (Amendment, etc.) Regulations 2024 came into force.

(5) No person qualified to prescribe or supply veterinary medicinal products may solicit or accept any gift, pecuniary advantage, benefit in kind, hospitality or sponsorship prohibited by this regulation.”.