Officials at Heathrow Airport have seized a quantity of animal medicines not authorized for use in the UK along with an animal.
An animal health officer identified and detained the products, which were subsequently seized by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
The animal was destined for residential premises in Bristol and had been shipped from South Africa to Heathrow Airport.
The parcel contained 216 x phenobarbitone 30mg tablets.
A statement by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate said:
“This product was intended for use in a dog and is not an authorized veterinary medicine in the UK and had not been prescribed by a UK vet for use in the animal.
“The medicine was seized under Regulation 25 [Importation of unauthorised veterinary medicinal products] of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013.”
Last month, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) officials seized a parcel which was addressed to residential premises in Co. Fermanagh in Northern Ireland containing illegal veterinary medicines.
The parcel was shipped from Australia and contained 5 x 100ml bottles of Tripart injection.
In a statement, DAERA said:
“This product is an injectable intended for use in horses and dogs and is not an authorized veterinary medicines in GB or NI.
“The medicines were seized under Regulation 25 [Importation of unauthorised veterinary medicinal products] of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013.”