5December 2001
Focusing onthe future for farm animal medicines - Commission proposals for legislativechange now published
Animal medicines will continue toplay a vital role in the future of British livestock production. This is themessage behind the NOAH stand at the Agrivision event, held at the NationalAgricultural Centre in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire on 5 and 6 December. Butthreats to animal medicine availability can only be detrimental to animal - andpublic - health.
The Agrivision event focuses onfarming's future, something close to NOAH's heart, as the European Commissionproposals to update the EU legislation controlling the licensing of animalmedicines are debated. The revised regulations will control animal medicines inEurope for the next decade, and the Commission's proposals for change havefinally been published. They now go to members of the European Parliament, andto the European Council of Agricultural Ministers for consideration.
TheEuropean Regulation that set up the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (and acentralised European procedure for licensing animal medicines) required theCommission to carry out a review of the legislative procedures for control ofanimal medicines after five years. NOAH, through its European federationFEDESA, has been involved in a good constructive dialogue with the Commissionin the development of these proposals. Much of what is proposed is good - theimportance of animal medicines is recognised and suggestions made which, ifthey are adopted, will improve availability, particularly for minor species.But a spanner has been thrown into the works. At the last minute a clause was introduced which would mean all foodanimal medicines would be available only on prescription - putting an end to theeffective UK PML (merchants) category for routine preventative medicines andtreatments, such as wormers, ectoparasite treatments and some vaccines.
DEFRAhas acknowledged that the UK's controlled yet practical system works. Farmershave access to medicines and a choice of supply, yet the training and codes ofpractice governing animal health distributors mean there are sufficientcontrols to safeguard the health ofanyone consuming livestock produce.DEFRA has
Continued /
saidthat the government is committed to seeking an amendment in the proposals togive sufficient flexibility to allow national systems of distribution tocontinue - a move welcomed by NOAH.
ButNOAH's work, alongside colleagues from other agricultural, professional andanimal welfare organisations, does not stop here. This alliance will beworking to persuade MEPs of the need for this flexibility - as will FEDESA.
Of course animal medicines are notthe only factor in reducing the incidence of disease. NOAH has been involved witha number of codes of practice for the responsible use of animal medicines - forexample the RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance)antibiotic codes. With these, the whole ethos has been not to just look atmedicine use - the whole husbandry system needs to be right to keep animalshealthy and prevent disease as much as possible. The aim is not just to reducethe need for medicines - but also to use them properly when they are needed. Itwould be counterproductive not to use animal medicines - for optimum animal welfare (andfood safety) they have a vital role to play.
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1. Forfurther information contact Roger Cook or Alison Glennon on 020 8367 3131, ore-mail noah@noah.co.uk or visit theNOAH website www.noah.co.uk
2. TheNational Office of Animal Health was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent theUK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animalhealth products. The association now has 38 corporate members and 11 associatemembers. In 2000 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the 357 million UKanimal health market, with additional valuable exports.
3. TheCommissions proposals for legislative change (200 pages long) can be found ontheir website at http://pharmacos.eudra.org/F2/review/doc/finaltext/011126-COM_2001_404-EN.pdf.