Participating veterinarians identified the relatively unfettered access to antibiotics by
producers as an impediment to appropriate antibiotic use in the food-producing animal
industry. It was suggested that some specific legislative changes be implemented to
control access through lay outlets, through importation for own use, and through the use
of API’s.
LEGISLATION &
REGULATION
Further, participating veterinarians suggest that antibiotics could only be available to
producers through a prescription and the administration of all Category I drugs be
performed by a veterinarian.
Participating veterinarians also identified a need for province-wide pricing of antibiotics,
national standards for antibiotics sales and the removal of growth/production from
antibiotic labels. Consideration could also be given to mandating an overall reduction in
the use of antibiotics.
The MIB requires updating, and the government could give consideration to a subsidy for
producers with herd or flock health plans. Participating veterinarians felt that they should
be supportive of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspections and monitoring
and the prescription writing requirements of CFIA could be streamlined.
It should be noted that the Auditor General of Canada1 and Health Canada2 have both
identified some of these same concerns.
1
2
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Veterinarians recommend that
some specific legislative changes
be implemented to control access
through lay outlets, through
importation for own use, and
through the use of API’s.
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