[Womble]

Help me out here folks!

I bought some Combinex last week over the counter, but when I got it home, I realised its classification code is POM-VPS, which I thought meant "prescription only veterinary medicine".

Likewise, I've just been to buy a bottle of Heptavac, and duly handed over my vet prescription..... which the girl behind the counter didn't know what to do with!  She then said "I don't need that - just your name and address will do". Again, the code on that is "POM-VPS, to be supplied only on veterinary prescription"

However, I now notice that the Combinex bottle also says "POM-VPS products may only be supplied in accordance with a prescription from a Registered Qualified Person as follows: (i) a registered veterinary surgeon; (ii) a registered pharmacist, or (iii) a registered suitably qualified person.

Does that mean that the farm store are registered as a sort of pharmacy then?  If so, how do I know when I do or don't need a prescription? 

[twizzel]

Normally in the farm store there is a qualified person who is allowed to sell wormers, vaccines etc. Not all staff can sell so I guess the qualified person has gone on a course. They have to record batch numbers, expiry dates and the address it's gone to plus ask how many animals will be treated

[Big Light]

Various staff in farm shops under go training prior to being allowed to sell wormers etc

[Womble]

So what can / can't they sell with that qualification then?

Or, another more useful way to ask: what products do they stock at the feed store, but CAN'T sell without a vet prescription?

[Big Light]

I think it's to do with comtrolled drugs that could be abused like barbiturates etc that may be used for therapeutic animal use and I think antibiotics to prevent overuse

[Marches Farmer]

Generally an SQP - Suitably Qualified Person.  They will ask for your CPH or postcode, depending on what the medication is.

[Black Sheep]

This page gives a quite nice summary (and links to some interesting post-grad courses if I had the time and funds!):

http://www.amtra.org.uk/index.php?page=sqp

More useful information here, including what you should expect to be asked by the person making the supply:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/retail-of-veterinary-medicines

There's a searchable list of medicines here:

http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/ProductInformationDatabase/Default.aspx

If you type POM-VPS into the filter in the Distribution Category column you can get the list of medicines that are most relevant.