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Posted: 8th February 2013

Strong views sparked on anthelmintic argument
BVA's call to classify anthelmintics as POM-V meets criticism

The BVA's recent letter to the VMD requesting that anthelmintics be classified as POM-V only has provoked mixed views in the industry. President of the organisation Peter Jones recently spoke of the importance of restricting anthelmintic access to veterinary surgeons only, in order to prevent animal resistance.

The Animal Health Distributors Association (AHDA) and the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) have responded in anger to the BVA's request to the VMD, accusing the association of being "out of touch with its members," and attempting to "monopolise" the supply and distribution of anthelmintics for vets.

If the BVA's request to the VMD is accepted, suitably qualified persons (SQPs) will no longer be authorised to prescribe anthelmintics. The association believes this will help the livestock industry to avoid a potentially disastrous situation, claiming "many experts in parasitology have cited the distribution of anthelmintics by SQPs in the past as one of the main reasons for the dangerous levels of resistance in the UK."

The SQP awarding body and regulator AMTRA, however, has claimed these concerns are "without foundation." Secretary general Stephen Dawson insists "the large majority of SQPs deal with parasite control on a daily basis, having trained and been examined to a syllabus developed with BVA input.

"SQPs have to undertake compulsory CPD, the majority of which includes good practice in parasite control," he continues. "Therefore AMTRA has every confidence that qualified SQPs have excellent knowledge of parasitology to advise their clients on the correct choice and use of anthelmintics."

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has also claimed it is "confident of the quality and technical knowledge" of SQPs, with their main concern being that farmers should have "good and timely access to all veterinary medicines and medicine advice."

NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley has advocated a joint effort from all prescribers as the best method for reducing the spread of anthelmintic resistance. Supportive of initiatives to encourage responsible prescriptions and use, the organisation suggests prescribers need to work with farmers and horse owners.

Mr Sketchely said: "Controlled accessibility to these medicines is likely to benefit animal welfare. There is no evidence to suggest that restricting those able to prescribe would do anything to reduce resistance, but it could damage businesses in already depressed rural areas. NOAH therefore urges the VMD to allow the current controlled systems to remain."

A spokesperson for the VMD has said the directorate will respond to the BVA's letter shortly.



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