Farmer pleads guilty to administering illegal medicines to his animals

James Rogerson, a dairy farmer, was given a 12 month conditional discharge yesterday after pleading guilty to veterinary medicines offences. He was also ordered to pay costs of £500.

The case, at Blackpool Magistrates Court, was part of a series of investigations by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) centred around farms in the North-West of England.

Intelligence resulting from previous prosecutions led Defra Investigation Officers to Game Farm near Fylde in June 2004. Medicines and documents were seized as evidence of the administration of unauthorised veterinary medicines.

All veterinary medicines in the UK must be assessed by the VMD to ensure their safety, quality and efficacy. It is an offence to administer any medicinal product which has not been authorised for use.

Mr Rogerson faced nine separate charges relating to five different medicines. The charges were made under Sections 58(2)(b) and 67 of the Medicines Act 1968.