By way of exception to the normal conditions of use of a veterinary medicine (as stated on product labelling and package leaflet), national and EU legislation provide for the use of veterinary medicines in certain circumstances outside their approved conditions of use. The reason for this is to provide for the treatment of conditions for which there is no authorised veterinary medicine and thereby to avoid unnecessary animal suffering.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the responsible body for the operation of this system (the so-called ‘cascade’ system).

Any queries relating to the cascade should be directed to the Department.