A LOCAL supplier of animal health products has warned that European Union plans to create a prescription-only monopoly in animal medicines will further damage the UK's already hard-pressed rural economy.

Farmway, the north-east's farmer-owned co-operative, says that because of new EU legislation to reclassify all medicines for farm livestock and horses as prescription-only medicines (POMs), livestock farmers would eventually be unable to purchase many animal medicines through their local registered supplier. The same legislation will also leave horse owners unable to obtain many commonly used equine products from their local saddler.

Commenting on the announcement, Judith Wox, retail business manager of Farmway, said: "At present, many non-prescription medicines commonly used to protect the health and welfare of both farm animals and horses are available through registered suppliers who employ professionally qualified staff.

"Under the European Commission proposal, formally submitted to the European Parliament and member states on November 20, all animals medicines for farm animals and horses will eventually be available only on veterinary prescription. That will further damage the viability of the majority of agricultural merchants in the UK, who are already suffering because of the decline in farm incomes by taking away a significant part of their turnover almost overnight. Inevitably many of the 3,500 people who currently hold a recognised professional qualification allowing them to authorise the sale of animal medicines from a registered premises, could end up losing their jobs.

"This proposed legislation is totally unnecessary and represents yet another serious blow to the already hard-pressed rural economy here in the UK. We would urge our local MP and MEP to do all they can to ensure that this proposal is modified, before it is too late."

Updated: 09:02 Thursday, January 10, 2002