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The ACVM Group Meets the Equine Industry

Members of the ACVM Group were invited to meet with representatives of the New Zealand Equine Health Association Inc at their annual general meeting to discuss the impact of the ACVM Act and issues that are of interest to both MAF and the industry. The following are some of the issues discussed.

1. The consideration by industry for the timely registration of products that may be required for emergencies and disease control contingency plans (e.g. exotic disease vaccines).

2. The importation of unregistered equine products (as examples):

• therapeutic and prophylactic medicines;
• dietary products;
• production and performance enhancers.

3. The regulatory control of performance enhancers:

• definition and recognition of performance enhancers;
• limitations on the ACVM Group to regulate performance enhancers;
• industry’s interest in regulatory control of such products (e.g. equine somatotropin).

4. Industry concerns about prudent use of antibiotics.

5. The definition of horses as food producing animals and the consequent impact on the cost of registering equine products.

6. The use of restricted veterinary medicines by grooms during transport of horses by air and sea.

The ACVM Group believes that these issues, and others that may arise, can be addressed effectively only through collaboration with the collective sectors of the industry.

The meeting with the New Zealand Equine Health Association provided a useful point of first contact towards achieving the Group’s objectives of having a better understanding of the equine industry and its concerns, and for developing a mechanism to discuss and resolve issues.