In a last minute turnaround Defra has rejected advice from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and instead backed a campaign, led by industry and farming publication pressure, to treat farmers as experts, reports The Farmers Guardian.
English farming press hailed the decision as ‘victory for common sense’.
Proposals from the VMD would have seen animal health companies banned from marketing antimicrobial medicines directly to farmers, including antibiotics used to treat common livestock diseases, such as mastitis and pneumonia.
The proposals were to bring the UK in line with mainland Europe.
In announcing that the ban would not come into force, Farming Minister Jim Paice said farmers should get the professional recognition they deserve.
“Farmers know their animals and don’t want to do anything to harm them or the public,” said Mr Paice. “They should therefore be treated as the experts they are.
“Antimicrobial resistance is complex and Defra keeps this area under close scrutiny, consulting regularly with experts and interested parties to ensure all available knowledge is taken into account.”
Advertising Of Antibiotics To Farmers Will Continue
UK - Controversial plans to ban the advertising of antibitoics to farmers have been shelves by DEFRA after it conceded that such a ban would have starved farmers of vital information to keep their animals in good health.
