The last month has seen plenty of debate about the VMD’s proposals to ban direct marketing of antimicrobials to farmers. Farmers Guardian’s series of articles has drawn comment from across the industry, while our Facebook campaign, Backing Britain’s Professional Farmers, has seen some 800 farmers and vets join our calls to recognise British farmers as highly skilled, trained professionals. This week, we also wrote to the VMD and to farming Minister, Jim Paice, expressing the industry’s opposition to the plans.

What’s at risk?

The proposed rules would ban advertising for a range of drugs used to treat common livestock diseases such as mastitis, intestinal diseases and pneumonia. Marketing would only then be allowed to vets.

Experts have warned the plans would starve farmers of key information regarding animal disease and could have an adverse effect on animal health and welfare in the UK. Voluntary schemes are already in place to combat antimicrobial resistance, and the livestock industry has urged regulators to think again before enforcing a strict new set of rules on farmers.

The VMD admits the ban would do little to combat resistance, but would instead bring the UK into line with the rest of Europe, where farmers are considered ‘members of the public’ rather than highly skilled professionals.

This could, in the long term, have far greater implications for British farmers than just banning direct marketing of antimicrobials.

If the status of British farmers is downgraded to ‘members of the public’ it could see further bans introduced on marketing other drugs including wormers and vaccines when marketing rules come under review.

The greatest concern is the effect on animal health and welfare. Without key information about new products and alternative treatments, farmers will be unable to discuss health planning with their vet and would be kept in the dark when it comes to choosing which products to use in their flocks and herds.

The ban would also have an effect on farmer meetings - often organised by pharmaceutical firms to discuss disease risk - and would also mean companies could not talk to farmers at shows and events to inform them about current and emerging threats to livestock health.

Similarly, it could have implications for research and development as companies may be reluctant to invest in new products unless they are able to advertise them to farmers and ensure a decent return on their investment.

Why are the rules being introduced?

In its consultation, the VMD says the ban is being introduced following fears vets were being put under pressure by farmers to prescribe certain products, creating a potential problem with resistance further down the line. The decision over which products to use, it says, should be entirely down to vets.

However, in an open meeting to discuss the plans, the VMD’s director of operations John Fitzgerald said the biggest driver behind the proposed ban was to come into line with the rest of Europe, which imposed a similar ban in 2005.

UK farmers were granted a derogation at the time after the VMD argued they were professional keepers of livestock, in contrast to many European farmers who are on a much smaller scale.

Farms on the Continent are, on the whole, a much smaller operation than in the UK. The average beef cattle herd in the UK is 105, against an EU average of 27. The average UK dairy herd is 69, against an EU average of 10. The UK is also home to 25 per cent of Europe’s sheep population, and the average flock size is bigger than anywhere else in Europe.

That derogation is now under threat despite the fact farmers here continue to operate on a much larger, more commercial scale, and under the new rules, UK farmers will, like the rest of Europe be classed as ‘members of the public’.

What happens next?

The proposed rules are currently out for consultation, open for comments until September 12. The VMD will gather in all the evidence it has received – including the comments submitted by Farmers Guardian – before making a recommendation to Ministers.

Ministers will then look at the VMD’s plans and, if they are happy with them, will sign them off and pass them into law.

Beyond the current consultation, there are moves to review existing rules for the marketing of other veterinary products such as wormers and vaccines at an EU level. These discussions are likely to take place in 2013 and could go much further than the VMD’s current proposals.

In the run-up to 2013, we will continue to fight for British farmers to be recognised as highly skilled, trained professionals and not be classed simply as ‘members of the public’.

What can you do?

With the consultation coming to a close in the next week, it is vital farmers get their point across to MPs that current proposals are bad for animal health and welfare in the UK.

You can write to your MP, asking them to raise the point with Defra Ministers and to back our calls to recognise British farmers as highly skilled, trained professionals.

We will also be putting your points to the VMD, and as part of this we have launched a survey to find out how you will be affected. Click here to take part in the survey and be entered into our free prize draw to win M&S vouchers.

As we continue our campaign through to 2013, you can also show your support by joining our Facebook group, ‘Proud to be a Professional Farmer’ and get your message across to politicians both here in the UK and in the rest of the EU.

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