I’m fed up with talking about the weather, but I can console myself with the fact we have grabbed every opportunity so far and progress is not too bad.Anger over claims farmers are 'not professionals'
NEW rules being proposed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), which would downgrade farmers from ‘professionals’ to ‘members of the public’ have been met by staunch opposition from British farmers.
The change comes as part of the VMD’s plans to ban direct marketing of antimicrobial medicines to farmers.
European rules currently state these cannot be advertised to members of the public and the UK has previously been unaffected as it has always regarded farmers as ‘professionals’.
However, the VMD said it plans to join other countries in Europe in classing farmers as no more professional than the average member of the public, provoking anger from the farming industry.
In an open meeting this week to discuss the plans, the VMD’s head of operations, John Fitzgerald admitted the move would do nothing to reduce the rise of antimicrobial resistance, but was instead being done to appease other European states and fall into line with them.
The move will see advertising for antimicrobial medicines banned and with further tightening of the rules expected by 2013, it could eventually see a ban on marketing other products such as wormers and vaccines.
The ban will take away key information for farmers and there are fears it could have a major knock-on effect for animal health and welfare in the UK.
MP and former chairman of the EU Agriculture Committee Neil Parish said the plans were ‘taking the precautionary principle too far’.
He said: “I understand we must be careful about how we use medicines but these are on prescription and farmers are given all essential advice on how to use them sensibly.
“Farmers need to be able to make an informed decision for the good of their livestock.”
Farmers too have hit out at the plans. Rodney Down, who farms 220 Holsteins and runs 300 beef cattle near Taunton, Somerset said: “Of course we need to know what medicines are coming onto the market. The vet could be biased or he may not have seen the next great drug. I need to be able to quiz my vet and ask what about this and what about that?
“I can’t believe we are wasting our time and money pushing for a ban on advertising. This Government needs to be streamlining agriculture not putting obstacles in the way. We need a competitive industry.”
Backing Britain’s Professional Farmers
Farmers Guardian has always backed Britain’s farmers, believing they are highly productive and professional.
But the VMD proposals would see farmers downgraded from ‘professional keepers of animals’ to simply being regarded as ‘members of the public’. Over the next few weeks, we will be looking in-depth at these proposals - and at where European legislation is likely to go next on this issue.
This is just the start - proposals in 2013 could see wormer and many other products regarded in the same way as antimicrobials.
Discussions will take place over the next two years and it is vital Britain’s farmers demonstrate they are trained, knowledgeable professionals.
Read the first in our series of articles here, and find out what the proposed new rules mean for farmers and read reaction from farmers and industry leaders.
Show your support
You can show your support for our campaign by joining our Facebook group.
Alternatively, write to your MP and outline your opposition to the VMD’s plans.
With enough support we hope we can convince Ministers to drop their plans and accept that farmers are highly skilled, trained professionals and have a right to all the information when it comes to animal medicines.
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Readers' comments (20)
Anonymous | 30 July 2010 1:09 pm
So, we take examinations in vet medicines, have previously gained nursing and medical qualifications and continue to upgrade and update our training and yet we are not considered as professionals. Hwere are those that say we are not professionals when they are charging us to take the courses ? they are NOT backwards in coming forward to offer the training courses. Far be it for me to state the obvious but others (who call themselves professionals) make far more money out of farming than the FARMER DOES and THEY probably know far less about animals than we do and would not spend the hours we do working. I suppose to be a 'PROFESSIONAL' one has to work 9 - 5 with Saturdays and Sundays off and all bank holidays off and OH yes Take 4 weeks holiday (minimum) per year. Why can't these lazy, interferring no bodies stop interferring or do they simply soon hope to live on chemically manufactured pills and potions synthetically made by 'the professionals'
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Anonymous | 30 July 2010 1:19 pm
Corruption, corruption, corruption, back handers this really does stink and is blatantly obvious what is happening....... and we criticise Eastern Europe and Russia at least they are open and honest that it happens and we hide behind EU regulations and "falling into line with other members states". At least someone will make some money out of it I suppose however shame it has to be at the expense of food producers who are already under enough pressure to reduce their costs!
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worcs girl | 30 July 2010 1:29 pm
what can i say but agree with the above anorther get rich scheme for training providers,and lets fleece the red neck clueless farmers who eat carrots all day,well thats what i think they think we are!!!!!!
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Anonymous | 30 July 2010 2:03 pm
Listened to radio discussion this am re how long food stocks would last if there was to be a transport strike, and how we should be more self-sufficient. As long as British farmers are being strangled by red tape, we will be more and more reliant on import and increasingly vulnerable.
We British huddle in corners and moan, let's do what the French do - get together and protest LOUDLY!!
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K Hall | 30 July 2010 3:45 pm
Absolutely ridiculous plans. Presumably this would mean a 'registered' professional would only be able to adminster wormers etc in future! Yet another blow to British farmers. All the farmers I know would be considered 'expert', 'professional' and 'expert consultants' in any other profession, why are VMD trying to kill off our agriculture industry at grass-roots?
It is a VITAL part of producer choice to be informed on what is in different products and how they work differently to others.
And what of all those who have attended agri' college/courses and gained qualifications, or those who have been doing the job for decades - do the VMD seriously think all that knowledge and experience can (or should) be dismissed? Farmers should not be labelled or written off as laymen when it comes to animal welfare and crop management.
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Newt | 30 July 2010 4:58 pm
These quangos have far too much power! Since Foot and Mouth they have been determined to put the whole of the British Livestock Industry out of business, and for what? They're the unprofessional ones! Can't they see that without us they would have no jobs! All quangos should be shut down, they're the real problem with this country not the honest, hard working farmers!
These petty minded townies make me sick!
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Tony Hall | 30 July 2010 5:14 pm
More EU rubbish! It is like the farm assure schemes where they come and tell us what to do, something farmers have been doing for generations. The quicker we get out of the EU the better.
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G Herbert | 30 July 2010 7:57 pm
Aw, and I thought that by not mentioning that I attend regular part-time agri college courses, tutorials run by EBLEX, etc., and work a 70-90 hour week (more at lambing time) and my current bedside book is "Forage Conservation and Feeding" I'd get away with being thought of as a "member of the general public". Think what the nationwould be like if everyone worked as hard as and knew as much about their subject as most farmers!
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Scott Heath | 30 July 2010 8:04 pm
This is just rubbish all of us working in farming have either grown up with it, studyed it at collage, or have been doing it all our working lives. We need to put our foot down and stop outsiders interferering with our jobs. We dont go into there office and tell them they are not Quallified to turn a computer on so must get some one to come and do it for them. Why cant they let us get on with the things that need doing not chasing bitd of paper all the time
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Dairy Farmer | 30 July 2010 9:44 pm
It's 10.00 am and OH is out with brother-in-law delivering a breech calf. There are many procedures farmers carry out which make them more like vets than members of the public. We can AI, washout, intubate, stomach pump, etc but they still think we're not professional enough! We've got a student vet coming this summer to learn more about handling stock and yet they seem to think we know less than even that student! As mentioned above, this country will be sorry when there are food shortages because farmers are fed up with all these regulations and restrictions. Just let us get on with the job.
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