Proper use of veterinary medicines – responsibilities of farmers

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) wishes to remind livestock farmers of their responsibilities in relation to the use of veterinary medicines on their farms.

Good management, housing, hygiene and nutrition, are essential to ensuring the health and welfare of livestock and the profitability of farm businesses. On occasions veterinary medicines can be a costly but necessary input in livestock farming. However, careless use of medicines on the farm can threaten consumer safety and may damage the reputation of local produce, negatively impacting on trade.

The use of antimicrobials in agriculture is coming under increased scrutiny due to the link with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans. AMR is a severe problem in human medicine and has prompted concerns that resistant bacteria could be transferred from livestock to the human population. As a major user of antimicrobials, the agri-food industry has a lead role to play in tackling this problem.

European and domestic law requires a proportion of food producing animals and their products to be tested for residues of veterinary medicines. DAERA is responsible for monitoring residues and operates an extensive surveillance programme. Random and targeted samples of live animals meat milk and eggs are collected from abattoirs, food processors and farms across Northern Ireland and tested for a range of antibiotics, hormones and anthelmintics.

Residues of authorised veterinary medicines detected above the legal limit, or the presence of prohibited or unauthorised substances, can result in an animal or product being declared unfit for human consumption. The department may also take enforcement action against the farmer and consider applying a penalty to Single Farm Payment for breaching cross-compliance rules. A non-compliant test will also trigger follow-up on-farm inspections and further sampling.

It is therefore vital that farmers understand their responsibilities when using veterinary medicines - there are a number of key points for livestock farmers to remember:

• Always take advice from your veterinary surgeon – this will ensure you use the most appropriate medicine in the correct manner
• Adhere strictly to withdrawal periods – this is one of the most common reasons why illegal levels of residues are found in animals and products
• Use the correct dose rate – make sure you know the weight of the animal to be treated – overdosing could mean illegal residue levels are still present after the withdrawal period has expired
• Keep accurate records – without accurate records you will be unable to determine whether or not a withdrawal period has expired. Your records should include the following information:-

When a medicine is purchased the following must be recorded:

• name of the product and the batch number
• date of purchase
• quantity purchased
• name and address of the supplier

At the time of administration the following must be recorded:

• name of the product
• date of administration
• quantity administered
• the withdrawal period
• identification of the animals treated

In addition, if the medicine is administered by a veterinary surgeon, the following must also be recorded:

• name of the veterinary surgeon
• batch number of the product

The responsible use of veterinary medicines by livestock farmers is vital in protecting consumer health, particularly in relation to the increasing threat posed by AMR. It is also critical to maintain the high reputation of local produce in an increasingly competitive marketplace and contribute to the economic success of the local livestock industry.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency recently launched a new five-year action plan to fight antimicrobial resistance. Download ‘Changing the Culture 2019-2024 – One Health’.
2. Follow DAERA on Twitter and Facebook.
3. All media enquiries to DAERA Press Office or tel: 028 9052 4619.

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