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Dairy Standards

ANIMAL MEDICINES Version 5.0 (modified)

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Glossary

Key – Those standards which have greater significance (all other standards are normal)

Recommendation – Those which do not affect certification

New – A completely new standard which the member must now adhere to

Revised – A standard that has changed and requires the member to take some different or additional action to before

Upgraded – The standard has been upgraded to a Key standard or from a Recommendation to a full standard

Appendix – Referenced in ‘How you will be measured’. Indicates that additional information is provided in the Appendices, which are available at the end of each section.

R This icon indicates that a record is required.

AIM: Responsible and competent use of medicines and veterinary treatments

DR.AM.1 Key

Only authorised veterinary medicines are used (REVISED)

How you will be measured

DR.AM.1.a

POM-V products are prescribed by a vet

DR.AM.1.b

POM-VPS products are prescribed by a vet, pharmacist or Suitably Qualified Person (SQP)/Registered Animal Medicines Advisor (RAMA)

DR.AM.1.d

Prescriptions for medicated feed detail all legally required information, including - the species of animal, the number of animals and their ID - the diagnosed disease to be treated or prevented - name, active substance and amount of product prescribed and inclusion rates (medicinal premix and active ingredient) - overall amount of feed to be supplied under the prescription

DR.AM.2 Key

Veterinary medicines must be used appropriately

How you will be measured

DR.AM.2.a

Prescription-only medicines are used in accordance with the prescription

DR.AM.2.b

General Sales Medicines (AVM-GSL) (non-prescription) are used in accordance with manufacturers’ or veterinary instructions

DR.AM.2.c

Expired medicines and open medicines not used within specified timescale (in-use shelf-life) are not used

DR.AM.2.d

Antibiotic footbaths must not be used in milking stock

DR.AM.2.1

Udder and hoof care products must not contain quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs)

How you will be measured

DR.AM.2.1.a

Either the chemical data sheet or a warranty declaration from the supplier confirms product does not contain QACs
R

Chemical data sheets/warranty declaration

DR.AM.2.2

Prophylactic administration of antibiotics is only permitted in exceptional circumstances (NEW)

How you will be measured

DR.AM.2.2.a

The rationale for prescribing a product for prophylaxis is clearly recorded by the vet

DR.AM.2.2.b

When an antibiotic is prescribed for administration to a group of animals for prophylaxis a management review is carried out by the vet to identify factors and implement measures for the purpose of eliminating the need for any future such administration
R
  • Rationale for prophylaxis (per prescription)
  • Management review (group prophylaxis)

DR.AM.3

Veterinary medicines must only be administered by demonstrably competent persons

How you will be measured

DR.AM.3.a

Person undertaking task has relevant experience or training
R

Named in HHP or training records

DR.AM.3.1

At least one person, who is responsible for administering medicines has undertaken training within the last 5 years and holds a certificate of competence/attendance (REVISED)

How you will be measured

DR.AM.3.1.a

Training courses cover at least: - medicine types - medicine handling - administration - medicine storage - recording requirements - avoiding residues
R
  • Certificate of competence/attendance
  • Training records
AIM: Safe, secure and responsible management of medicines

DR.AM.4

Veterinary medicines must be stored appropriately

How you will be measured

DR.AM.4.a

Kept in a locked storage facility/room. This must not be in the same room as that classified as the dairy.

DR.AM.4.b

Stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions

DR.AM.4.c

Medicated feed is kept in separate clearly labelled bulk storage or bags

DR.AM.4.d

Medicines that require refrigeration and are stored in a domestic fridge are stored in a container

DR.AM.5

Purchase records for all veterinary medicines must be kept

How you will be measured

DR.AM.5.a

Records detail: - identity of medicine - quantity - date of purchase - supplier name and address - expiry date(s) - batch number(s)

DR.AM.5.b

Medicine purchase records are kept for 5 years

DR.AM.5.c

Medicated Feeding Stuff Prescriptions (MFSPs) are kept for 5 years
R
  • Medicine purchase records
  • MFSPs (may be held centrally by parent company)

DR.AM.6 Key

Records must be kept of all administered veterinary medicines (paper and/or electronic)

How you will be measured

DR.AM.6.a

Records detail: - identity of medicine - date of administration - quantity administered - length of withdrawal period for meat/milk - identification of the animal or group of animals administered - batch number - number of animals treated - date treatment finished - date animal/milk becomes fit for human consumption - name of person administering medicine - reason for treatment

DR.AM.6.b

Medicine administration records are kept for 5 years
R

Medicine administration records

DR.AM.7

Veterinary medicines, their containers and administration equipment must be disposed of responsibly

How you will be measured

DR.AM.7.a

Expired and unusable medicines awaiting disposal are stored separately to in-use medicines

DR.AM.7.b

Used needles and blades are stored in a dedicated sharps container pending disposal

DR.AM.7.c

Records of medicine disposal are kept, detailing: - identity of medicine - batch number - quantity - date of disposal - route of disposal

DR.AM.7.d

Medicines, their containers and administration equipment are disposed of through the supplier, a registered waste disposal contractor or local authority, referring to the product literature for further guidance
R
  • Medicine disposal records
  • Waste transfer note/receipt

DR.AM.8.1

It is recommended total annual antibiotics used should be collated and uploaded onto AHDB medicine hub or Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers AMU Calculator or equivalent

DR.AM.9 Key

Use of HP-CIA antibiotics (i.e. those belonging to Category B “Restrict”, as defined by the European Medicines Agency), must only be as a last resort, under veterinary direction

How you will be measured

DR.AM.9.a

Use is supported by a veterinary statement outlining the justification for use, including sensitivity testing and/or diagnostics (this can occur parallel with treatment)
R

Vet statement

AIM: Prevention of contamination of food

DR.AM.10 Key

Prescribed withdrawal periods must be correct and complied with

How you will be measured

DR.AM.10.a

Treated livestock are identifiable for the entire withdrawal period

DR.AM.10.b

For farm to farm sales, animals under statutory withdrawal periods are accompanied by a withdrawal period declaration
R

Withdrawal period declaration

DR.AM.11

Procedures must be in place to deal appropriately with needles or part needles remaining in livestock

How you will be measured

DR.AM.11.a

Broken needle policy detailing: - how the animal should be identified - procedures around informing the abattoir if sent for slaughter - records to be kept

DR.AM.11.b

Broken needle policy is followed

DR.AM.11.c

Livestock containing broken needles may only be sold for slaughter if the animal is identifiable up to the time of slaughter
R

Broken needle policy

Where to find help

More Standards

Guidance
  • AM.2 – Veterinary Medicinal Product is legally defined as:
    – any substance or combination of substances presented as having properties for treating or preventing disease in animals
    – any substance or combination of substances that may be used in, or administered to, animals with a view either to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions by  exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action, or to making a medical diagnosis.

Veterinary medicinal products used to treat and prevent disease in farm animals include, but are not limited to, vaccines, ecto- and endoparasiticides, antibiotics, anti- inflammatories and anesthetics.

POM-V stands for ‘Prescription Only Medicine – Veterinarian’ and these veterinary products may only be supplied upon prescription by a veterinary surgeon for animals under their care. All antibiotics for food-producing animals are classified as POM-V.

POM-VPS standards for ‘Prescription-Only Medicine – Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person (SQP, also known as RAMA-Registered Animals Medicines Advisors) and these products may be prescribed by these registered qualified persons.

The use of antibiotics as growth promoters is illegal. The use of certain substances which have a hormonal or thyrostatic action, including beta-agonists, except for specific therapeutic purposes, is also prohibited.

  • AM.3.1 – Courses include, but are not limited to, City & Guilds, NOAH/Lantra Antimicrobial Best Practice and veterinary led training courses, as approved by Red Tractor. A list of approved courses can be found on the Red Tractor Assurance website
  • AM.6 – The required information does not need to be in a single location (e.g. a medicine book); it can be stored in a combination of documents. However, a farm must be able to demonstrate how the information can be collated to correlate administration of particular medicines to specific groups of cattle and lambs so as to ensure the food chain is protected and any use of medicines is traceable. For example, medicines administered routinely to groups of animals, such as vaccines, need not be individually entered in the
    medicine book – a list in the VHP covering the necessary information will suffice
  • AM.10 – Ensuring treated livestock are ‘identifiable’ may be achieved in different ways. It is not a specific requirement that treated animals are physically marked, although this is one way of ensuring animals are identifiable. The key is that it is possible, through systems employed on the farm, to identify treated animals to protect the food supply chain.
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