VMD updates QR code guidance for veterinary medicine packaging
UKPulse Health Desk
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has updated its guidance on QR codes for veterinary medicinal product packaging, allowing links to educational material.
- The VMD's updated guidance permits QR codes on veterinary medicine packaging to link to additional educational and instructional material.
- Previously, QR codes were only allowed to link to non-public-facing information or approved product text.
- The changes aim to improve digital access to product information for veterinary professionals and product users.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has updated its guidance regarding the use of QR codes on authorised veterinary medicinal product packaging. This change allows marketing authorisation holders (MAHs) to link QR codes on packaging to additional educational and instructional material, providing extra guidance to product users.
Previously, VMD guidance restricted QR codes on packaging to linking only to non-public-facing material, such as internal manufacturing information, or to the approved product text. Now, MAHs can link to educational and instructional content, provided it adheres to new QR code principles published on the Product Literature Standards (PLS).
Gavin Hall, Deputy CEO of the VMD, stated that updating the guidance offers an opportunity for additional digital educational and instructional material alongside existing information. He added that this supplementary content can give vets and pet owners convenient access to further guidance on the safe and effective use of medicines.
Why this matters: The updates are intended to improve digital access to product information for veterinary professionals and product users, potentially helping pet owners feel more confident using veterinary medicines correctly and safely.
What this means for you: You may start to see QR codes appearing on more veterinary medicine packaging. Scanning these codes with your smartphone may provide educational and instructional content from pharmaceutical companies, such as guidance on administering medicine, what to expect during treatment, or safe storage.