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AgVetLink June 2003

SPECIAL ISSUE FOR VETERINARIANS

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Important notice to all prescribing veterinarians – IVS

As part of a compliance investigation, the ACVM Group has found that it seems that the publication IVS is not always up to date with changes in product registration conditions.

One situation that we were investigating involved a product that was not for use in food producing animals likely to be exported to the European Union. Use was limited to pigs and poultry, but there was a comment in IVS about use on calves that we consider is misleading.

In another ongoing compliance investigation, it was found that products requiring registration in New Zealand have entries in IVS without being registered for use in New Zealand. The same investigation has shown a range of pack sizes for some products not covered by the current registration.

This is of serious concern to the NZFSA because we are aware that many prescribing veterinarians rely heavily on this publication for advice. We would urge all veterinarians to check the accuracy of information shown in IVS with the product packaging prior to prescribing.

Veterinarians are advised to check the packaging of products to ensure that there is either an Animal Remedies licensing statement and number or an ACVM registration statement and number. Restrictions on the use of the product are also part of the approved label.

The ACVM website (http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/acvm) has a searchable list of registered products and, as products are updated to ACVM Act registrations, it will include copies of the approved labels or label content.

The ACVM Group understands that registrants provide the information to IVS. We have written to all registrants to advise of our concerns and to advise that any incorrect information supplied in this way is likely to constitute an offence under section 55 of the ACVM Act. It is an offence to knowingly sell any agricultural compound in contravention of the ACVM Act.

Veterinarians following such advice would also be in contravention of the ACVM Act as would farmers using the product. Where there are violative residues found in product both the prescribing veterinarian and the farmer concerned may have recourse to the registrant concerned.

 

Changes in PAR product advertising policy

The ACVM Group’s policy on advertising (ref: Product Advertising Policy, 164 ACVM 10/02) states that the prescription only status on the product must be included in any advertisement. All other limitations on advertising in the policy are generic and refer to all agricultural compounds.

Several parties have advised the ACVM Group that this is inadequate guidance for a number of reasons. Some types of PAR products should not be advertised to the public at all. For those that may be advertised, the advertisement should always be consistent with the registrations.

Acting on this advice, the ACVM Group has amended the advertising policy. The New Zealand Veterinary Association code of practice Promotion of Prescription Animal Remedies by Veterinarians and Industry was taken into consideration when developing the following amendments.

Classes II and III PAR products must not be advertised in any way to the general public.

It is acceptable for registrants or third parties to advertise (either directly or via trade-specific publications such as special branch newsletters, the New Zealand Veterinary Journal or Vetscript) classes II and/or III PAR products to veterinarians who have the right to prescribe them. It is not acceptable to advertise such products to the general public or even to particular user groups.

Class I PAR products may be advertised under certain circumstances.

The advertisements must be technically correct and factual. Any product claims must be able to be substantiated (and consistent with the claims approved as part of the product’s registration). There must be no distortion through exaggeration, misleading statements or untrue emphasis. There must be no reference to websites that are not under the control of the registrant and that may present the product in a manner or make claims that are inconsistent with its registration.

Registrants may draw attention (including in television advertisements) to their products in a factual and technically correct manner. However, there must not be any inducement offered or any presentation of the product to the end user in a manner that causes undue influence on the prescribing veterinarian.

Prescription animal remedy (PAR classes I, II or III) products must not be displayed for general sale.

The revised product advertising policy can be viewed on the ACVM Group website.