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With the UK experiencing summer heatwaves in 2026, it’s important that vet practices and retailers are checking how veterinary medicines are stored and temperatures monitored. High temperatures can increase the risk of medicines being kept outside their required storage conditions, but good temperature control is not just a summer concern. VMD inspectors see storage, monitoring and record-keeping issues all year round, in all types of weather. In this two-part blog, Julia Pearce explains what VMD inspectors expect to see and shares practical advice to help veterinary practices and authorised retail premises stay compliant with the law - temperature control of veterinary medicines is no longer just good practice, it is a legal requirement.
Schedule 3 Paragraph 3E of the Veterinary Medicines RegulationsRetail storage of veterinary medicinal products
3E. A retailer of veterinary medicinal products must store (including during transport) a veterinary medicinal product in accordance with the terms of any specific instructions on the label of the product and in accordance with the relevant summary of product characteristics.
This requirement came into effect on 17 May 2024, as part of the 2024 amendments to the 2013 regulations. This applies to any premises that store or transport medicines in all categories, POM-V, POM-VPS, NFA-VPS and AVM-GSL. From temperature monitoring, record keeping and cold chain management to protecting products from light, preventing contamination, and ensuring medicines remain within specification during transport, these blogs provide practical guidance to help you meet these legal obligations.
About the authorI have been at the VMD for 10 years and have previously owned and run a saddlery and pet supplies store for nearly 20 years. I qualified as an SQP in 1994 and have inspected hundreds of vet practices over the years.
Why is temperature control so importantAs described in our previous blog on shelf-life and expiry dates, veterinary medicines can degrade from exposure to heat, light, moisture or air. This is why storing medicines at the correct temperature is essential to keep the medicines work as intended.
Credit: Pixabay
During inspections, we ask for evidence that you store veterinary medicines correctly in every location where you keep them. Wherever you store veterinary medicines, you must also have an appropriate temperature monitoring device in place.
What should you expect during an inspection?Inspectors commonly see temperature records for cold chain products; however, you must now also provide records that show you maintain ambient storage conditions within the required temperature range.
In addition, if you transport veterinary medicines in any capacity, whether for deliveries, by vets visiting clients away from the practice premises, or when moving medicines between a main branch and a smaller branch, you must show that you maintain appropriate storage conditions throughout transport, including within vehicles. This is explored further in the second blog of two-this two-part series.
How does light affect veterinary medicines?Credit: Pixabay
When storing veterinary medicines, temperature is not the only consideration. You must also protect some products from light, including artificial light unless the label specifically states direct sunlight only. Always check the product label for storage instructions.
A common example is Calciject No.5 40 CM, which must be protected from light but is often stored on open shelves in veterinary practices and authorised retailers.
A dark-coloured container does not always indicate light protection, and you should not rely on bottle colour alone. If in doubt, keep products in their original packaging and store them in cupboards, cabinets with solid doors, or areas with limited light exposure. You must also protect products that require light protection during transport as well as while storing them in the dispensary.
What temperature should medicines be stored at?You must store cold chain products between 2°C and 8°C, while most ambient products should stay below 25°C. We also recommend avoiding ambient storage below 12°C, as this is close to the dew point in many indoor environments. If products become colder than the surrounding air, condensation can form, potentially damaging packaging and making labels difficult to read and can encourage mould growth.
Ambient storage areas have some form of climate control to minimise temperature extremes, if not provisions must be implemented to ensure that products are not exposed to temperatures outside those stated on the Summary of Product Characteristics.
Using fans to create airflow can help but during periods of high temperature you must consider your storage locations, Heat rises so higher shelves and storage under skylights or next to windows should be avoided.
For static enclosed locations such as controlled drugs cabinets then the inclusion of a frozen ice pack wrapped in bubble wrap or a towel can lower the temperature in the cabinet, and the wrapping prevents direct contact of the ice pack with the medicines.
You must also protect veterinary medicines from freezing. Although practices usually monitor cold chain products, refrigeration issues remain a common inspection finding.The type of refrigerator you use and the way you store products can significantly affect performance.
Common problems include poor cleaning, ice build-up, and overstocking, which can cause products to freeze when pushed against the fridge walls. Refrigerators should be cleaned regularly, not overfilled, and serviced routinely to ensure they operate correctly.
Keeping medicines away from your lunchCredit: VMD
A common inspection finding is the storage of human food alongside veterinary medicines. Medicines and vaccine refrigerators must not be used for staff food.
We’ve found items such as sandwiches, drinks, soup, butter, salad, and other food products in medicines fridges, creating a potential contamination risk. If inspectors identify food contamination or inappropriate storage, they may take action, including seizing or disposing of affected products.
Inspectors have the authority to seize veterinary medicinal products and Schedule 5 products such as additives and medicated feeds, if storage conditions may have compromised their safety or effectiveness. Schedule 5 products include additives, in-feed premixes, premixtures, intermediate products, and medicated feeds. Where storage standards are not met, these products may be removed from use.
How do I monitor temperatures?We see a wide range of temperature monitoring devices, from basic minimum/maximum thermometers to advanced digital, data-logging, and smart monitoring systems with remote alerts. The key thing to remember is that whatever system you use used, you must able to accurately monitor temperatures, maintain records, and identify and manage any temperature excursions.
Minimum expectations for thermometers Digital min/max thermometersAt an absolute minimum, we recommend the use of a digital thermometer that displays:
the current (actual) temperature, and the minimum and maximum temperatures recorded since the thermometer was last reset.For all refrigerated storage, including vaccine fridges, vehicle fridges, and any vaccine chillers within the practice, you should:
record the minimum and maximum temperatures daily, and reset the thermometer after each reading.This approach provides a clear overview of temperature control since the previous check and allows any excursions to be identified promptly.
Ambient storage
For ambient storage areas, you should record minimum and maximum temperatures daily. You could reduce this frequency to weekly where temperatures remain consistently stable or increase it when extreme weather conditions are forecast or environmental temperatures become more variable.Recording max/min temperatures does not give you any indication of the duration of any excursion, so the practice cannot determine if the temperature spike occurred for a few minutes, a few hours or even longer. Without knowing the duration of the excursion it is impossible to determine the extent to which the medicines have been compromised.
Thermometers with remote sensorsThermometers consisting of a main display unit with a cabled sensor probe can be used effectively for both ambient and refrigerated storage within a single unit. Where these are used for refrigerated storage, it is advisable to insulate the sensor to better mimic the packaging of the product. This reduces sensitivity to frequent door openings and provides a more representative reading of product temperature rather than air temperature alone.
Data loggersYou can use data loggers as an alternative to manual min/max thermometers, but you must set them up correctly to identify temperature excursions and generate alerts when temperatures fall outside acceptable limits. You should understand the manufacturer's instructions, device indicators, and the actions required when alerts occur.
For refrigerated storage, including vaccine and vehicle fridges, you should download and review data at least weekly. Recording intervals vary, but approximately every 15-30 minutes is generally recommended, providing sufficient detail without creating excessive data.
Although data loggers automate temperature recording, they do not replace daily checks. Staff must still confirm that devices are working correctly and that no alerts have been triggered.
Smart thermometersSmart thermometers use Bluetooth or Wi‑Fi technology to continuously record temperatures, with data accessible through an app or online platform.
When you configure these systems properly, they can provide automatic alerts if temperatures fall outside the required range, enabling prompt action. Before purchasing, ensure the system is suitable for your storage arrangements, connectivity, and staff availability to respond to alerts.
As with any temperature monitoring system, staff must understand how it works, what alerts mean, and the actions required when a temperature excursion occurs.
External monitoring servicesThird-party monitoring services can install equipment, monitor temperatures remotely, and notify users of excursions, often by text or phone call. While these services can reduce workload, responsibility remains with the holder to respond to alerts, maintain records, and ensure they are available for inspection.
A good tip to help ensure you are taking accurate readings is choose a temperature monitoring system that is calibrated.
Shared responsibility and staff trainingTemperature monitoring should not be the responsibility of just one person. Everyone involved in storing, handling, or transporting veterinary medicines should understand the procedures, including:
How temperatures are monitored and recorded Acceptable temperature ranges Who to report issues to Actions required if temperatures fall outside limitsEffective storage and temperature control are fundamental to ensuring veterinary medicines remain safe, effective and compliant with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations. However, your responsibilities do not end when medicines leave the premises. You must also protect veterinary medicines during delivery, transport and use away from the main premises. In Part 2 of this series, we look at how to do this.
seen at 11:33, 13 August in Veterinary Medicines Directorate.