In the absence of veterinary medicinal products authorised in a country for the relevant animal species and indications for use, the licensed veterinarian carrying out their professional responsibility, for safe guarding animal health and welfare, should have the opportunity to make a professionally justified choice out of other suitable veterinary medicinal products, authorised either in their own country or in another EU country.

The European Commission’s proposal for a regulation on veterinary medicinal products recognises the lack of authorised veterinary medicines for certain species or indications in EU countries. It gives veterinarians the possibility to use other products through the so called “cascade” (art 115-118).