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AgVetLink October 2003

Recent events

• The ACVM Group has given a series of presentations to the MAF Verification Agency staff on the proposals concerning prescription animal remedy (PAR) products, on ACVM Act issues that affect them, and on the interface with the Animal Products Act generally.
• ACVM workshops, which were an updated version of the November 2002 workshops run in New Zealand, were held in Sydney and Melbourne. They were well attended by Avcare and VMDA (Veterinary Medicines Distributors Association) members and had good feedback. Thanks to Avcare and the VMDA for their organisation of the venues and logistics.
• A summary of submissions received on the draft standards for prescribing PAR products and for trading PAR products is now available on the website ( http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/acvm/archive/draft/standards-guidelines/index.htm ). The ACVM Group’s response to the submissions is being considered at the moment and will be published as soon as it is available (see article at right).
• A new fact sheet outlining the process for setting MRLs has been posted on the website ( http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/acvm/publications/information-papers/mrls0903.pdf ). Other fact sheets available on the website are Veterinary Medicines and the ACVM Act, Plant Compounds and the ACVM Act and NZFSA’s ACVM Group. All are short (two page) information sheets available under the ‘publications/information papers’ section.
• The ACVM Group’s Compliance operating principles have been updated on the website. This two page document explains how the ACVM Group will deal with any complaints and/or allegations received.
• The consultation period for the Draft Standard for Oral Nutritional Compounds closed on 15 September. Submissions were considered and a revised draft has been placed on the website for consultation (see article on page 5).
• Members of the ACVM Group Operations team have attended a training session of MAF Quarantine Services (MQS) staff in Tauranga. We now have approximately 300 MQS staff trained and approved as ACVM Act inspectors at the Border.
• The Industry Liaison Group met in Wellington on 21 August 2003.

Consultation on the draft standards for prescribing and dispensing prescription animal remedies

The ACVM Group has placed the summary of submissions on its draft standards for prescribing and dispensing prescription animal remedy veterinary medicines on its website. Thirty submissions were received, predominantly from either veterinary practices or veterinarians. A number of these were copied submissions bringing the total of unique submissions down to approximately 15.

The general concerns expressed by veterinarians in regard to the original draft policy were the same in regard to the draft standards. The veterinary respondents, pharmaceutical companies and product manufacturers’ associations still considered that applying the standard would:

• increase the risks to trade in primary produce, animal welfare and agricultural security;
• jeopardise the viability of veterinary practices;
• encourage misuse and over use of PAR products;
• put veterinarians under pressure to prescribe PAR products unnecessarily;
• allow unscrupulous farmers and trading organisations to have access to PAR products.

They were also concerned that the ACVM Group would be unable to ensure compliance. These were all issues addressed in the ACVM Group’s response to the summary of submissions on the draft policy.

Federated Farmers of New Zealand were still in favour of the standards and considered that the draft standards improved the regulatory control proposed in the draft policy. New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association, Poultry Industry Association and practitioners involved in vertically integrated intensive livestock production were also supportive of the standards.

There were additional new comments in regard to how the standards could be improved. These are being considered as part of a revision process. The ACVM Group is also drafting a response to the summary of submissions on the draft standards, which will be placed on the website as soon as it is completed.

The ACVM Group considers it has sufficient information to finalise the standards. It is intended that the prescribing and dispensing standards will be combined into a single standard for prescription animal remedy veterinary medicines. This will also include existing requirements for importation, manufacture and use as well as the requirements for prescribing and dispensing such products. The endorsement of the standard will be announced in a later issue of AgVetLink.