Industry Information

NOAH member companies represent more than 97% of the UK animal medicines market.

Most sales relate to products that help prevent disease and maintain animal health. Key categories of veterinary medicines include:

• Vaccines: stimulate the animal’s immune system to prevent specific viral, bacterial or parasitic diseases.
• Ectoparasiticides: prevent and treat parasites living on the skin or coat, including mites, fleas, ticks, lice and flies.
• Endoparasiticides: treat internal parasites such as worms, flukes and coccidial protozoa.
• Endectocides: target both internal and external parasites.
• Antimicrobials (antibiotics): treat bacterial infections.
• Reproductive medicines
• Anti‑inflammatories (pain relief)
• Other therapeutics: including anaesthetics, neurological medicines, gastrointestinal treatments, cardiopulmonary therapies, geriatric products, supplements for dietary deficiencies, and other specialist products.

Protecting animals from harmful and zoonotic diseases, particularly through vaccination supports the One Health approach, promotes responsible antimicrobial use, and underpins sustainable livestock farming, companion animal welfare, environmental management and food security.

Sales by Species

When NOAH was founded in 1986, around 70% of animal medicines were used in farm livestock. Although farm animal populations have declined, investment in livestock health, especially vaccines remains strong. Since then, there has been a shift that reflects significant innovation in the companion animal sector, helping pets lead longer, healthier lives.

Legal Categories of Veterinary Medicines

Under the UK Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR), authorised products fall into four categories:

• POM‑V: Prescription‑Only Medicine, supplied only following a veterinary surgeon’s clinical assessment.
• POM‑VPS: Prescription‑Only Medicine for food‑producing animals (including horses), prescribed by a veterinarian, pharmacist or Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) without requiring an animal to be examined.
• NFA‑VPS: Non‑Food Animal Medicine supplied by a veterinarian, pharmacist or SQP without a prescription.
• AVM‑GSL: General Sales List medicines with no retail restrictions, although responsible supply remains essential.

All medicines for food‑producing animals require a prescription (POM‑V or POM‑VPS). All antibiotics, for both farm and companion animals, fall within POM‑V.

Additional Product Types

Two further categories appear in the NOAH Compendium:

• Exemptions for Small Pet Animals (ESPA): Certain products may be marketed without a marketing authorisation if labelled exclusively for species not intended for human consumption (e.g., aquarium fish, cage birds, reptiles, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits).
• Specified Feed Additives: Products authorised under EU Regulation 1831/2003, including coccidiostats, histomonostats and selected zootechnical additive

If you require more information please email noah@noah.co.uk