•AVM-GSL medicines There are no legal restrictions in the VMR for the retail supply of veterinary medicines classified as AVM-GSL ("over the counter" medicine) but a responsible approach to the supply of these medicines is still expected.

•POM-V medicines A Veterinary Medicinal Product (VMP) that has been classified as a POM-V may only be supplied to the client once it has been prescribed by a veterinary surgeon following a clinical assessment of an animal, or group of animals, under the veterinary surgeon's care.

•POM-VPS A veterinary medicines classified as POM-VPS may be prescribed by any Registered Qualified Person (RQP - a veterinarian, a pharmacist or an appropriately qualified SQP (Suitably Qualified Person). A clinical assessment of the animal(s) is not required when prescribing this category of veterinary medicine and the animal does not have to be seen by the prescriber. However sufficient information about the animal and the way it is kept must be known to the prescriber in order to prescribe and supply appropriately.

•NFA-VPS A veterinary medicine classified as NFA-VPS may be supplied by an RQP (a veterinarian, a pharmacist or an appropriately qualified SQP) provided the requirements for supply are met. These medicines do not require a prescription.

•SAES The SAES permits certain medicines to be placed on the market without a marketing authorisation (MA), subject to certain conditions. This exemption scheme applies only to veterinary medicines labelled exclusively for use in one or more of the following animals that are not intended for human consumption: aquarium animals (including fish kept in closed water systems), cage birds (meaning birds kept in cages or aviaries), homing pigeons (meaning pigeons kept for racing or exhibition), terrarium animals (meaning reptiles, amphibians and arthropods kept in tanks and cages - including animals free-living in domestic gardens), small rodents (meaning domestic mammals of the order rodentia), ferrets and rabbits.

•CD All CDs are listed in one of five Schedules in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (MDR) and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland)(MDR (NI)) 2002. A list of commonly encountered CDs can be found on the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/drugs/drug-licences/controlled-drugs-listN) and requests to establish the control status of other drugs can be sent to Home Office licensing enquiries at licensing_enquiries.aadu@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk. A list of all current veterinary medicines that are CDs is also available on the VMD website (www.vmd.defra.gov.uk). The substances are scheduled according to their therapeutic usefulness and need for legitimate access, as well as potential for misuse and the harms caused by that misuse, to both the individual and society. Schedule 1 CDs are subject to the greatest restrictions and Schedule 5 the least.

•Specified Feed Additives Feed additives authorised under Regulation EU 1831/2003 belonging to the functional groups; coccidiostats, histomonostats and certain other zootechnical additives ie non-antibiotic growth promoters.

•the circumstances of the animals being treated;

•the available authorised veterinary medicinal products;

•the need for responsible use of medicines and the requirement to prescribe the minimum amount of product necessary for the treatment (subject to the minimum pack size manufactured and any authority to break bulk in the Regulations);

•the abilities and competence of the person who will administer the product; and

•any available animal health plan.