Abuse and misuse of animal medicines in the country due to their inappropriate regulation informed sessional paper no.2 of 2008 that called for the formation of distinct government agency to regulate the trade and use of animal medicines.

• Good quality veterinary medicines will guarantee higher livestock productivity, increased incomes, improved food and nutrition security.
• Good quality veterinary medicines will ensure effective and affordable treatment of animals
• Proper regulations minimize risks of treatment failure
• Appropriate regulation of veterinary medicines guarantees safe foods of animal origin locally and internationally
• Appropriate  regulation of veterinary medicines facilitates market access of foods of animal origin locally and internationally,
• Proper disposal of veterinary medicines will prevent environmental contamination
• Appropriate regulation of veterinary medicines will reduce animal suffering.

•  To curb misuse and abuse of veterinary medicines
• Research has established that independent regulation of veterinary medicines is more efficient
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate(VMD) is anchored on Chapter 1, Art 2(6) of the constitution which compels Kenya to comply with any treaty or convention it has ratified
• Independent regulation of veterinary medicine is an international best practice endorsed by the World Trade Organization(WTO), World Organization for Animal Health(OIE), World Health Organization(WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO).

• Develop and enforce standards in the importation, manufacture, distribution and use of animal medicines
• License medicines used in treating animals
• License companies that manufacture and process animal medicines
• License premises used to distribute and sell animal medicines
• Approve and monitor the advertisements and labelling of animal medicines
• Develop and enforce guidelines on disposal of animal medicines
• Monitor the market for trade in illegal and counterfeit animal medicines and prosecute offenders
• Carry post market survey of safety and performance of licensed animal medicines.

• The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is the Competent authority in regulations of veterinary medicines in the country.
• It works with animal health professionals licensed veterinary medicines manufactures, traders and users to guarantee that medicines used to treat animals are safe, effective and of the high quality.

•  Veterinary Medicines Directorate doesn’t regulate animal professionals.
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate doesn’t regulate animal health training institutions.
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate doesn’t regulate other veterinary practices including clinical practice, Artificial Insemination(AI) and quality assurance of animal health training institutions.