Farmscape for July 14, 2016

The Veterinary Counsel with the Canadian Pork Council says proposed changes to the Food and Drug Regulations pertaining to veterinary drugs will foster closer relationships between pork producers and their veterinarians.
The federal government published its Proposed Changes to the Food and Drug Regulations Related to Antimicrobial Resistance July 2, kicking off a 75 day public comment period.
The changes, which have been in the works for nearly two years and involved extensive public consultations, will end the use of antibiotics as growth promotants in food producing animals but will allow their use for prevention and treatment of disease.
Dr. Egan Brockhoff, the Veterinary Counsel with the Canadian Pork Council, says the changes will mean a much higher level of veterinary oversight.

Clip-Dr. Egan Brockhoff-Canadian Pork Council:
That's been part of the discussion since the very beginning, that increased veterinary oversight was one of the desired outcomes.
This really move us in the direction of closer relationships between veterinarians and producers.
There's no question that we want prudent use and we want antimicrobial stewardship and we want to maintain access to necessary pharmaceuticals.
We want to maintain good animal health and of course good animal welfare.
There' going to have to be more discussion on how antimicrobials are used on farm.
There's going to have to be discussion on how we're going to use those antimicrobials for prevention and for treatment.
All of these products are going to become prescription only now and so we have to understand and recognize that there's going to be a tighter relationship needed between your herd veterinarian and your farm.

Dr. Brockhoff says the pork industry has worked closely with Health Canada, the Veterinary Drug Directorate and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on this draft document.
He says pork producers recognize the importance of antimicrobial resistance to public health and food safety and the Canadian pork industry is very supportive of antimicrobial stewardship and prudent use and endorses the direction the legislation is going.
For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

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