30.12.2010

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Defra have today announced an 11th hour roll back of a proposed ban on advertising antibiotics direct to farmers. The ban, which would see the UK brought in line with the rest of Europe, where such advertising is already banned, has been supported by an 'Alliance against advertising antibiotics to farmers'. The Alliance, which was formed in September, comprises a number of environmental and farming bodies including the Soil Association, Compassion in World Farming and the Food Ethics Council.  

Environmentalist Sami Grover said at the Alliance's inception "by definition, advertising is designed to increase consumption of these medicines—a goal that is directly at odds with attempts to maintain antibiotics as a viable response to pandemic illnesses".

Farmers are professional keepers of animals

The UK's exemption from the ban is due to a unique interpretation of the rules, whereby farmers are classed as ‘professional keepers of animals'. Those taking a stance in favour of the ban maintain that in order to ensure good standards of animal health and welfare, it is crucial antimicrobial drugs remain effective.

There are fears that overuse of antibiotics could lead to the accelerated development of resistant strains of bacteria. Speaking in July, John FitzGerald, operations director at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), said “Responsible prescribing is essential to avoiding premature development of resistance”.

Defra reject VMD proposals on advertising ban

Defra have acted against advice from the VMD and ultimately backed an industry led campaign in their decision to keep the direct advertising legal.

In a statement elucidating the VMD’s grievances, John Fitzgerald explained “we want to make sure the person who is buying a medicine understands he or she is buying it from an appropriate source and has the confidence that it is an authorised veterinary medicine.

He or she needs to know it isn’t something that is not recognised and unauthorised in the UK or, worse still, that it isn’t some made-up product that could damage the animal you are treating, people eating the food or the person administering it.”

The ban’s detractors maintain that farmers’ professional status should be recognised. They argue that it is essential farmers know about different treatment options.

Expounding the industry’s outlook, Farming Minister Jim Paice today said "Farmers know their animals and don’t want to do anything to harm them or the public. They should therefore be treated as the experts they are. Antimicrobial resistance is complex and Defra keeps this area under close scrutiny". 

However, Soil Association policy advisor Richard Young summed up the fears of the alliance and VMD, concluding “It is totally unacceptable for the pharmaceutical companies to be pushing the most modern drugs at farmers in this way, when there is already evidence that their use in farming is increasing the number of treatment failures in human medicine."