Most of Canada’s largest livestock groups including the Cattlemen’s Association, Pork Council, Chicken and Dairy Farmers of Canada have publicly supported these proposals to tighten controls over own-use veterinary drug imports and to strengthen control over importation of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
According to Ag Media, Jean Szkotnicki, of the Canadian Animal Health Institute says that Health Canada “is going to put controls over the importation of antimicrobials. With these controls they (Health Canada) will be able to know how much is coming in and where it’s being used. If you’re going to have a policy direction on antimicrobial resistance, those are things you have to know.” She says that the proposed changes will cast a light on “some of the other differences between veterinary and human medicines.”
Health Canada also announced in its April 17 press release that it is continuing work with stakeholders to increase appropriate veterinary oversight for farmers to access antibiotics considered to be important in human medicine. This change will require further amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations and Feeds Regulation, the release says.
