Your Guide to Northern Ireland Veterinary Supply Changes in 2026

Veterinary Medicine Supply in Northern Ireland: 2026 Update

At Weldricks Pharmacy, we support the health of our customers and their animals across the UK and we pride ourselves on being a reliable, family-run service that pet owners can depend on.

However, due to significant changes in UK and EU regulations following the end of the post-Brexit grace period, we have had to make a difficult decision regarding our delivery services.

Service Update: Veterinary Medicine Deliveries to Northern Ireland Please be advised that, at present, we cannot facilitate the delivery of any veterinary medicines (including AVM-GSL, NFA-VPS, POM-V, and POM-VPS) to Northern Ireland due to new supply regulations. We are actively seeking a compliant route to resume these shipments and will notify customers via this page once our service is restored.

Why has the supply to Northern Ireland paused?

From 1st January 2026, new rules under the Windsor Framework have come into full effect. These rules mean that veterinary medicines moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland must now comply with a different set of licensing and "batch-testing" requirements. For a medicine to be legally sent to Northern Ireland now, it must have a specific Northern Ireland-valid license and, in many cases, be tested and released by a qualified person based within the EU or Northern Ireland.

As a responsible, UK-regulated pharmacy, we must adhere strictly to these laws. While we are currently unable to facilitate these shipments, please be assured that we are exploring every possible avenue to resolve these logistical hurdles so we can return to serving our Northern Ireland community.

Legal & Compliance: The Current Situation

The regulatory landscape for veterinary medicines is currently separate for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

• Licensing Changes: Manufacturers are now required to have a legal entity in the EU or NI to supply products.
• Retailer Restrictions: Under the current interpretation of the 2026 rules, many retail-led supply routes from GB to NI face significant administrative barriers.
• Our Commitment: We are in ongoing discussions with our partners and regulatory bodies to establish a compliant route that meets these new standards.

What should Northern Ireland pet owners do?

We understand that this pause may be frustrating and worrying. While we work on a solution, we recommend the following steps to ensure your pet's health is not interrupted:

• Consult Your Local Vet: Veterinary practices in Northern Ireland have access to specific government schemes (like VMIMS) that allow them to source medicines that retailers currently cannot.
• Check Local NI Pharmacies: High-street pharmacies based within Northern Ireland may still have access to stock that was "placed on the market" before the 2026 deadline.
• Stay Informed: We will update this page the moment our shipping policy changes. We are committed to resuming our service to Northern Ireland as soon as it is legally and logistically possible.

A Note to Our Northern Ireland Customers

We value the trust you have placed in Weldricks over the years, this pause is a direct result of our commitment to operating legally and professionally within the new UK regulatory framework. We are doing everything we can to ensure this interruption is as brief as possible.