Topics and Briefing Documents

Independent Review of Dispensing
("The Marsh Report")

The Independent Review of Dispensing by Veterinary Surgeons was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as part of the Government’s Action Plan for Farming launched at No. 10 Downing Street on 30 March 2000.  The terms of reference of the Independent Review were:

• To review the procedures by which prescription-only medicines for veterinary use are classified and sold in the United Kingdom and the impact current practices may be having on availability and prices.
• To make recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by 31 March 2001.

The Report was sent to Ministers by the Review team's Chairman, Sir John Marsh, in March 2001, and was published in May 2001. An interim Government response was published in December 2001. The formal Government response was published in December 2002.

Press releases

• Government response to Marsh: NOAH welcomes support for cascade (17 December 2002)
• Marsh process 'a success', says NOAH (1 February 2002)
• Government response to Marsh Report positive and practical (21 December 2001)
• Dispensing Report needs careful analysis (22 May 2001)

Further information

• Government's Formal Response (December 2002)
• Government's Interim Response (December 2001)
• NOAH's response (July 2001)
• The "Marsh Report" (May 2001)
• NOAH's submission (October 2000)
• The IRD website
• Review 2001 - EU Commission proposals for changes to legislation