In 2003 the Competition Commission investigated the supply of veterinary medicines, and an Order was drawn up by the Department of Trade and Industry to alter the way in which prescription only medicines (POMs) were supplied to the public in the UK. The aim of the order was to increase public awareness of the price of POMs, to encourage the use of prescriptions to give the public more choice of suppliers, and to increase the manufacturer’s supply of POMs to other outlets such as pharmacies. The Competition Commission’s involvement with veterinary medicines was to investigate potential monopolies; it has no interest in drug safety or efficacy. | In 2003 the Competition Commission investigated the supply of veterinary medicines, and an Order was drawn up by the Department of Trade and Industry to alter the way in which prescription only medicines (POMs) were supplied to the public in the UK. The aim of the order was to increase public awareness of the price of POMs, to encourage the use of prescriptions to give the public more choice of suppliers, and to increase the manufacturer’s supply of POMs to other outlets such as pharmacies. The Competition Commission’s involvement with veterinary medicines was to investigate potential monopolies; it has no interest in drug safety or efficacy. |