A risk to horse health: warning against importing unauthorised medication

Illegally imported equine drugs have been seized by the relevant authorities in four recent cases

- BECKY MURRAY

OWNERS have been reminded that importing unauthorised veterinary medications is illegal – and not only poses a risk to horses, but could result in prosecution.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has reported four recent cases of equine products being seized by authorities.

A respiratory supplement intended for an address in Norfolk and wormers intended for a residential address in Reading, which had been shipped from the USA, were seized at East Midlands airport. A skin balm shipped from Serbia and a joint supplement from the USA, both intended for residential addresses in Northern Ireland, were detained at a courier company in Belfast.