Unlicensed Medicines
Veterinary medicines are authorised for specific conditions for specific target species, based on assessed data. The conditions of use for each authorised veterinary medicine are listed in its Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC).
Where there is no suitable veterinary medicine authorised for the specific condition in the animal being treated, to avoid unacceptable suffering, a veterinary surgeon is permitted to use their clinical judgement to treat animals under their care with medicines that are licensed for a different species or condition. Some of these medicines may be Human medicines with a Marketing Authorisation valid in the UK, or may not be authorised in the UK and require a special import certificate.
The steps vets must follow in making decisions about the suitability of these drugs must be in accordance with the cascade.
The cascade is a risk-based decision tree. Prescribing decisions in accordance with the cascade should be made on a case-by-case basis.
The prescribing vet is personally responsible for the choice of product and, as part of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ (RCVS) Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons, they must obtain the owner’s consent for their animal to be treated under the cascade.
The information that must be included on the label for products used under the cascade is listed in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR)
This must show the name and address of the premise supplying the medicine, the details of the prescribing vet, the name and address of the owner, the identification of the animal including the species, the date of supply, the expiry date, the name or description of the product which should include at least the name and quantity of active ingredients, dosage and administration instructions, any specific storage requirements/precautions, any necessary warnings for the user, target species, administration, or disposal, and keep out of reach of children and for animal treatment only.
It is often not possible to include all this information on the drug label. In that case, it is permissible to include it on a separate sheet.
We provide this additional information through the links provided below. Clicking the link will open the most recent unlicensed medicine information provided by the BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association)