The Enforcement Team was set up as a direct result of the increasing number of illegal veterinary products being marketed for sale, supply and administration in the UK.

The aims of the team are :-

"to protect public health, animal welfare and the environment by seeking to eliminate the use of illegal veterinary medicinal products by reducing the marketing, sale and supply of such products"

"to encourage understanding of the benefits of the regulatory process and thereby to encourage the responsible use of the authorised veterinary medicinal products"

Veterinary medicines which are presented for the treatment or prevention of disease in animals or which have that function, must be authorised in accordance with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2008 before they can be legally sold in the UK.  The importation, sale, supply, administration and possession of other products for veterinary medicinal purposes is illegal.  It is in the interests of public health and animal welfare therefore that only authorised products are marketed for sale and administration.