The Rosselkhoznadzor: mandatory labeling of medicines will not affect veterinary medicines

However, importers of animal medicines faced difficulties at the border due to a misunderstanding of the new rules by customs officers, told in the Union of animal business enterprises to "Veterinary and Life (“V&L”)". We will remind that the changes to the Federal law "On the circulation of medicines" came into force on July 1, 2020. According to them, all drugs for medical use are subject to mandatory labeling to monitor their movement from the manufacturer to the end user.

In addition, it envisages the disposal of expired medicines. But, despite the fact that veterinary drugs are medicines, this innovation does not apply to them, the Rosselkhoznadzor informed "V&L".

"The circulation of medicines for animals is regulated by the Federal law "On the circulation of medicines" N 61-FZ. Article 46 of this law defines the procedure for labeling medicines. All manufacturers, suppliers and importers of veterinary medicines are guided by this article. There are no other requirements for labeling medicines for animals", told Oleg Yarosh, Head of the Department for supervision of the circulation of medicines for veterinary use in the Rosselkhoznadzor, to “V&L”.

However, according to Russian importers, there were difficulties at the border in early July.

"I received a call from three of our major importers of animal products with information that they are not allowed to pass through the Customs in Sheremetyevo, because there is no labeling on veterinary products. We promptly contacted the Rosselkhoznadzor with a request to explain this to the Customs. The Rosselkhoznadzor promptly resolved this issue during the afternoon, and the consignment was allowed to enter the country", told Tatyana Kolchanova, Director of the Union of animal business enterprises, to “V&L”.

In addition, according to Tatyana Kolchanova, the industry Union received dozens of requests from entrepreneurs: importers, distributors, wholesale companies and veterinary clinics, who said that manufacturers of control equipment sent them commercial offers for the purchase and installation of technologies for labeling veterinary medicines.