Environmental risk assessment of veterinary pharmaceuticals in the EU: reply to Montforts and de Knecht.

This paper is in response to a previous article in a Special Issue of Toxicology Letters. That article criticised the current regulatory framework in the European Union for the environmental risk assessment of veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) and feed additives (FAs), in particular the ongoing process of international harmonisation of guidance. This response addresses the concerns raised in relation to veterinary medicinal products and demonstrates that the VICH process has been brought within the scope of current EU regulatory processes for veterinary medicines and therefore is not separate to them. Consultation with stakeholders takes place throughout the VICH process, with an additional period of open public consultation before guidance is adopted and implemented.