Farming unions united in opposition to antibiotic rules

A PROPOSAL to prohibit the sale of antibiotics to farmers and livestock producers has been rejected by NFU Scotland who state they believe that such a move would have an adverse effect on animal welfare.

The proposal is in a wide-ranging consultation document issued by the Veterinary Medicine Directive over a number of changes to the regulations relating to the control and sale of medicines.

These also include the banning of advertising of antibiotic products in any of the farming trade press.

In their response to the consultation which closed last night ,the union states that animal health and welfare planning depends on informed discussions between professional livestock farmers and their vets.

"If farmers are restricted in their access to advertising material their ability to develop welfare strategy in consultation with their vet would be compromised, relying solely on their vet to be aware of new developments, with a potentially negative consequence to welfare," NFUS argued.

Furthermore, the union believes that any ban on advertising would reduce the current level of positive pro-active work carried out between farmers and the veterinary profession.

Part of the thrust of the proposals is to reduce the risk of any build up of antibiotic resistance through the over use or misuse of antibiotics. But the union and their English counterparts both say they see no scientific proof of a link between antibiotic resistance and farmer advertising. "Vets have the final word on prescribing the most appropriate antibiotic for the animal requiring treatment and the change would reduce the ability of the livestock keeper to keep abreast of new diseases and how to control them," NFUS said.

Both Scottish and English unions argue that the situation is already covered by a code of practice and no further restriction or regulation is necessary.

"Most pharmaceutical companies producing antibiotics have signed up to the National Office of Animal Health's code of practice for the promotion of animal medicines," said NFUS.

"Preventing direct advertising of antibiotics to farmers will reduce the amount of disease information and education available to them, which will compromise animal welfare."

The unions also warn if advertising antibiotics were to be banned it could compromise the development of new drugs. "The development of new drugs is costly and can take years. The viability of a new product, which eventually comes through the process, depends to an extent on awareness."