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Who we are

We鈥檙e an independent scientific advisory committee which meets about 3 times a year at the offices of the聽VMD:

We don鈥檛 employ any staff. Our secretariat is resourced by the聽VMD聽and can be contacted at [email protected]

Our responsibilities

The VPC was originally established under the Medicines Act of 1968. Its remit derives from Article 28 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulation (VMR) 2013, and its formal terms of reference are to:

• provide the Secretary of State with scientific advice on any aspect of veterinary medicinal products and specified feed additives
• promote the collection of information relating to suspected adverse reactions for the purpose of advising the minister
• hear representations on decisions relating to the granting, refusal, variation, suspension or revocation of a marketing authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product or an animal test certificate

As part of the network of expert and evidence committees within聽Defra聽and wider Government,聽VPC聽operates in accordance with the Government鈥檚 Principles for Scientific Advice and the Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees (CoPSAC).

Members of聽VPC聽are independent appointments made through open competition, in line with the (OCPA) guidelines on best practice for making public appointments. Members are expected to act in accordance with the Principles of Public Life while respecting the commercially confidential nature of much of the information they receive.

The VPC聽aims to be a trusted source of evidence, advice and constructive challenge on all aspects of veterinary medicines and related products to and through the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. It does this through:

1. Providing independent advice on marketing authorisation applications and Animal Test Certificates (ATCs), as requested by聽VMD, and hearing appeals from applicants on聽VMD聽decisions on marketing authorisation (MA) applications, reclassifications and other processes as required.
2. Regularly monitoring special import certificates, ATCs and MAs issued by聽VMD, and undertaking quality assurance evaluations of聽VMD鈥檚 MA assessments reports.
3. Monitoring and advising聽VMD聽on pharmacovigilance, focussing on the efficacy and adverse effects of veterinary medicines on animal, human and environmental health.
4. Through its membership and members鈥� scientific and professional networks, providing scientific and other evidence-based intelligence and advice to聽VMD聽on both current and potential issues relating to veterinary medicines and related products.

Strategy 2023-2027

In accordance with its remit and aims,聽the VPC聽will provide independent evidence, advice and constructive challenge in order to help聽VMD聽achieve its aims of protecting public health, animal health and the environment, and of promoting animal welfare, by assuring the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines.

The strategic priorities for聽the VPC聽for the period 2023-2027 are to:

1. Consider the composition and working practices of聽VPC聽to determine effective, agile and sustainable approaches to providing聽VMD聽and other government bodies with high quality, impactful and timely feedback, advice and challenge.
2. Support the implementation by聽VMD聽of its and Research and Development Strategy , and, thereby ensure that the regulatory functions of聽VMD聽are underpinned by the best available scientific expertise.聽VPC聽will also perform 鈥榟orizon scanning鈥� of potential future issues and opportunities, facilitating scientific and other debate, and have better engagement with聽VMD-supported research including assessing its impact.
3. Provide impactful, timely and pertinent advice to聽VMD聽on pharmacovigilance, including communicating topics and concerns, such as environmental and sustainability issues and benefit:risk approaches, identified by stakeholders and through members鈥� professional networks.
4. Develop a communications plan to improve understanding and dialogue with stakeholders in support of聽VPC聽and聽VMD聽activities.