We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Industry reaction to the VMD proposals
WE spoke to some leading figures in the agricultural industry to see what they thought about the potential ban on advertising animal medicines.
Neil Parish MP
Credentials
Neil was a livestock farmer in Pawlett, Somerset, before he became a Member of the European Parliament in 1999. Throughout his 10 years in Brussels he was the Conservative Party agriculture spokesman and he was chairman of the European Parliament Agriculture Committee 2005-2009. Mr Parish is now an MP for the rural Devon constituency of Tiverton and Honiton. He is also a member of the Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee.
Comment
“The proposal to ban the advertising of medicines to farmers is taking the precautionary principle too far.
“There is a danger that vets will have the drugs market sewn up if farmers are prohibited from seeing which products are available to them. I am totally against that.
“When I was farming there were many medicines out there, at different prices and with different specifications and I always considered my options to make sure I was getting good value for money.
“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.”
John Walton, dairy and arable farmer
Credentials
John is a tenant farmer on an estate near Northwich, Cheshire, where he farms 275ha (680 acres). Besides milking 200 cows on an organic system he runs a vegetable box scheme and has an open farm which attracted 70,000 visitors last year.
Comment
“We have a very good relationship with our vet and rely on him to recommend the best medicine for the job at hand. But if you don’t have that relationship with your vet, then adverts can help keep farmers abreast of what medicines are out there.
“Because we are organic we don’t use a lot of medicine but calf pneumonia can be an issue and it is very important we are informed about new products that are most able to do the job.
“It does beggar belief that somebody would try to ban the advertising of medicines for no obvious benefit whatsoever.”
John Mercer, NFU chief livestock adviser
Credentials
The NFU is a leading member of RUMA - the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) - which was established in November 1997 to promote the highest standards of food safety, animal health and animal welfare in British livestock farming.
Comment
“Farmers take health and welfare very seriously and so they need to know what products are available to them. These proposals take away a degree of awareness of the products that are out there and take away some of the competition from your supplier.
“They could also reduce awareness of some of the issues out there because sometimes the adverts act as information pieces as well. They can be a source of basic information about particular issues at certain times of the year.”
Peter Morris, chief executive National Sheep Association
Credentials
The NSA looks after the interests and future of sheep farmers throughout the UK.
Comment
“The benefit of these medicines being advertised in the farming press is that it allows farmers to ask informed questions of their vet.
“We want to see people being very much aware of new products, like a sheep drench that came out recently, so when they go to their vet, they can ask challenging and informed questions so they get the best possible advice back.”
Rodney Down, beef and dairy farmer
Credentials
Rodney farms at Higher Wrantage Farm, near Taunton, Somerset. He milks 220 Holsteins and runs 300 beef cattle and followers.
Comment
“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.”
Tim Brigstocke, Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF)
Credentials
RABDF is the only independent organisation dedicated to representing the interests of British dairy farmers.
Comment
“The important thing is for farmers to have the right information to make a choice and to use medicines responsibly.
“We need a co-ordinated, cross-industry approach led by RUMA to tackle these proposals, but they will be difficult to stop given they are an EU initiative.
“We do need to take the issue of antimicrobial resistance very seriously but I worry that the proposed rules could stifle the development of new products which would be a massive mistake.”
Phil Sketchley, NOAH chief executive
Credentials
NOAH represents the UK animal medicine industry. Its aim is to promote the benefits of safe, effective, quality medicines for the health and welfare of all animals.
Comment
“While NOAH can understand the political pressures on the regulatory system that have brought about this proposed change, we must ensure this proposed ban does not impinge on providing farmers with essential information relating to the health and welfare of their animals.
“NOAH believes that good policy is based on a foundation of science and is anxious this and future debates about antimicrobial resistance should be based on science and not politics.
“We need a holistic approach to all medicine use and by that we mean responsible promotion, responsible prescribing and responsible use of all medicines including antimicrobials.
“NOAH believes that prescribers and users of veterinary medicines should operate on the principle of ‘as little as possible but as much as necessary.”
John Davies, beef and sheep farmer
Credentials
John farms between Brecon and Builth Wells, running a 240ha (600-acre) mixed unit. Progeny from the farm’s 120 suckler cows are finished on-farm, as are lambs from the ewe flock.
Comment
“We will look at adverts and listen to our vet before we make a decision on what medicines to use on our livestock.
“We often see a new product and ask our vet what he thinks of it.
“I can’t understand why they would ban advertising. I understand tobacco advertising may be prohibited because it is bad for you, but medicines help our animals get better.
“How on earth would I be able to find out when a new product comes onto the market if I can’t read it in my newspaper?”
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.
Farmers reject VMD plans to ban medicines marketing
Anger over claims farmers are 'not professionals'
We must fight to protect UK’s livestock industry
Why is the VMD banning advertising?
Farmers are the ‘unfair target’ in drug resistance battle
Fears over plans to ban drug marketing
VMD Q&A: What farmers are asking
VMD consultation: What the farmers are saying
Readers' comments (1)
Anonymous | 30 July 2010 1:31 pm
What does the British Veterinary Association say, because the ban on advertising seems to be sewing up the market for the vets.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment