The UK's Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has made a clean sweep of its regulatory targets, achieving a 100% success rate for national applications and faultless performance in inspections, import and export schemes, and handling product defects. The stellar report reveals a period of robust performance by the organisation.
Notably, the VMD saw a dramatic increase to 99% in the number of applications processed successfully, up from just 56% in the previous year. Similarly, its inspection regime was flawless, with all import and export schemes also achieving 100% compliance. The regulatory body's performance on other application types has been transformed, exceeding expectations.
Its rigorous standards were met or exceeded across 38 defined measures, with 22 areas showing 100% compliance and a further 13 between 95-99%. Only one standard fell short of the 85% mark. This consistent high performance ensures that new veterinary medicines are processed efficiently, enabling quicker market access for treatments.
During the reporting year, the VMD authorised 20 new vaccines and issued 130 marketing authorisations for pharmaceutical products – crucial for preventing diseases, enhancing food security, and supporting rural economies across the UK. The regulatory body's enforcement team successfully removed over 850 illegal listings from online marketplaces, protecting animal owners and the public from potentially unsafe and unauthorised products.
The VMD also made significant progress in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a critical threat to both animal and human health. Working collaboratively with government, industry, and the veterinary profession, the VMD led the UK's AMR National Action Plan. The latest VARSS report revealed a 57% reduction in total antibiotic sales for food-producing animals since 2014 – a substantial achievement.
The regulatory body addressed post-Brexit complexities by working closely with Defra and devolved administrations to manage the conclusion of the Northern Ireland grace period on 31st December 2025. The report confirms that no significant medicine supply issues were identified, testament to the coordinated efforts of government and stakeholders. The VMD also invested in its workforce, increasing headcount to 223.