01/03/2004 
Prescriptions to be compulsory as from 2007 for all products of animal origin used in food production - A comment by Dr. Martin Schneidereit from the Bundesverband für Tiergesundheit e. V. (BfT)*
When voting on having prescriptions to be compulsory for all products of animal origin which are used in food production (as a part of the Animal Drug Law), the European Parliament decided to have such regulation valid as from 2007. This means that from that time on 25 million British Sheep will undergo medical treatment on prescription only against infections with worms and flies. For Germany, it means that medicines which can only be bought at the pharmacy -- such as ointments to be put on the udder, liniments, cough medicines, fly controls insecticides and others -- will be handed out on prescription only and that product information may exclusively be given to the vet. It remains highly questionable whether or not those changes will really contribute to consumer information and consumer protection. Better consumer protection cannot be guaranteed by just introducing ever stricter regulations. The correct use of animal drugs can at best be guaranteed if the user is being informed carefully about the products; this is most important for drugs which are exclusively being applied by the livestock farmer. However, allowing to have drugs available on prescription only cannot be an absolute matter. It rather depends on the ways of distribution that are and have been existing in the individual EU member countries. In this connection, too, it becomes clear that creativity may result from the implementation of new regulations. In Great Britain plans are already being made for converting the EU guideline into national law in a way allowing that the existing ways of distribution, which are both safe and well known, may be maintained. Imposing compulsory harmonization on the EU member countries will not hit the target. To be able to produce safe food of animal origin, Europe needs to maintain its varieties, always following the principle of subsidiarity.
*) Bundesverband für Tiergesundheit: German federation for animal health
*) Bundesverband für Tiergesundheit: German federation for animal health
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