Growing Forward 2 - Final Report | Page 45

Participating veterinarians identified the relatively unfettered access to antibiotics by producers as an impediment to appropriate antibiotic use in the food-producing animal industry. It was suggested that some specific legislative changes be implemented to control access through lay outlets, through importation for own use, and through the use of API’s. LEGISLATION & REGULATION Further, participating veterinarians suggest that antibiotics could only be available to producers through a prescription and the administration of all Category I drugs be performed by a veterinarian. Participating veterinarians also identified a need for province-wide pricing of antibiotics, national standards for antibiotics sales and the removal of growth/production from antibiotic labels. Consideration could also be given to mandating an overall reduction in the use of antibiotics. The MIB requires updating, and the government could give consideration to a subsidy for producers with herd or flock health plans. Participating veterinarians felt that they should be supportive of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspections and monitoring and the prescription writing requirements of CFIA could be streamlined. It should be noted that the Auditor General of Canada1 and Health Canada2 have both identified some of these same concerns. 1 2 45  Veterinarians recommend that some specific legislative changes be implemented to control access through lay outlets, through importation for own use, and through the use of API’s. http://www.