UK VMD warns on vet prescription fraud, Oct–Nov 2025

If you keep pets, run a practice or teach animal care, this is one to bookmark. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has published its first Inspections and Enforcement report for October–November 2025, released on 2 March 2026, pulling together what went wrong, what was seized and where the risks are. We’ve turned it into a plain‑English guide you can use in class, on placement or at the counter. (gov.uk)

Let’s start with prescriptions. It is illegal to alter a written veterinary prescription without the prescriber’s permission. VMD data shows 1,852 reports of prescription fraud between January 2023 and June 2025: 84% were tampered scripts and 16% were complete fabrications. The medicines most often targeted include dermatitis treatments, anti‑inflammatories, cardiovascular drugs and parasiticides. If you suspect fraud, report it. (gov.uk)

What this means for you: check the basics every time. Does the prescriber’s name and RCVS number match practice details? Do the dose, quantity or repeats look altered? If anything jars, call the practice to verify and make a contemporaneous note. You are not being awkward-you are protecting animals, owners and your own professional standing. If in doubt, submit a report to the VMD Enforcement Team using the online tool. (gov.uk)

Counterfeit flea treatments are also on the move. After a joint VMD and Intellectual Property Office warning in June 2025, reports of suspected fake flea and tick products jumped sevenfold-from six total historic reports to forty‑nine, including eleven in October–November 2025 alone. The VMD says it has already contacted several eBay sellers and retailers. (gov.uk)

For learners and pet owners, the rule is simple: buy only from authorised sellers. Be wary of poor packaging, spelling errors, unusual smells or “too‑good‑to‑be‑true” prices. Many fakes are ineffective; some have contained toxic insecticides that can seriously harm pets. If you spot something suspicious, stop using it and report it to the VMD. (gov.uk)

Inside practices, broach limits need attention. In this period, 18% of inspected vet practices were using medicines beyond the stated broach limit. Write the open date or the use‑by date on first broach, follow the product’s timeframe-often 28 days, sometimes shorter or longer-and do not use it after the limit. That’s a safety issue and a legal one. (gov.uk)

Enforcement in brief: between October and November 2025 the VMD opened 200 new cases, issued five enforcement notices, sent 219 letters, removed seventy‑seven illegal listings, and closed 321 cases. The notices mainly related to illegally imported medicines-typical examples include horse wormers, anti‑inflammatories and flea and tick products-often addressed to residential premises. You can read individual seizure notices on GOV.UK. (gov.uk)

Online sales remain a persistent problem. The VMD logged fifty‑five reports of prescription‑only medicines being sold by non‑authorised retailers in 2024 and fifty‑two in 2025. Sales were reported across social platforms, marketplaces and other websites. Buying unauthorised products risks counterfeit or substandard medicines-and customers may unknowingly commit an illegal importation offence. (gov.uk)

The VMD has also removed listings on Facebook Marketplace and Vinted offering partly used or leftover medicines. Supplying leftovers is illegal. Leftover products should be disposed of as the leaflet instructs or returned to a vet for safe disposal-never resold, shared or posted online. (gov.uk)

What inspectors saw across the supply chain matters for your day‑to‑day practice. Among manufacturers and wholesalers, some Wholesale Qualified Persons were not meeting their responsibilities; the Good Distribution Practice manual sets out what compliance should look like. In feed businesses, inspectors flagged problems supplying against medicated feed prescriptions and highlighted gaps in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points planning. (gov.uk)

At practice level, record‑keeping tripped people up: 21% of inspected practices were not recording all required details when prescribing or supplying medicines. Regulation 23 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 spells out what must be recorded-build it into your workflow so it’s done at the point of care, not at the end of the day. (gov.uk)

Quick win for tomorrow: before morning consults, check your ambient temperature record, mark yesterday’s newly opened injectables, and make sure your team knows how to use the VMD’s online reporting tool. You won’t always get individual feedback, but the VMD says it acts on the intelligence it receives and publishes formal notices for 12 months-small reports add up to real‑world safety. (gov.uk)