Editorial #18 - Nick Jarrett

Two pieces of scientific advice loom large in my mind at the moment, one recently completed, one still developing. Both come out of Regulation 2019/6 and both relate to availability of medicines for food producing animals. The first is the scientific advice on the list of substances essential for the treatment of equine species and the second relates to the list of substances used in VMPs which may be used in aquatic species (in both cases I have abbreviated the names as including them in their entirety would have entirely used up my word count!). Neither have been straight forward and both have required enormous dedication from the network.

On the procedural front, a big change for us (and indeed for many of you) is the introduction of IRIS. In recent months we have been slowly but surely adding to the number post-authorisation procedures managed in IRIS. And so far, the reports are good!

As the monthly CVMP meetings start up again (the committee doesn’t meet in August), a topic to which I will increasingly be devoting time is VICH. Every November the Steering Committee and Forum meet. This year it’s the European industry and regulators turn to host, and the meetings will take place here in Amsterdam, at the EMA. The Steering Committee and Forum always provide an opportunity for regulatory experts from across the world to interact but this year that’s even more true than usual as, in addition to the annual meetings, a VICH conference will take place on the 13th and 14th. I hope to see many of you there!

Nick Jarrett
Head of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals Service