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ANIMAL MEDICINES

Version 5.1

Click to view all ANIMAL MEDICINES

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.

This icon indicates that a record is required.

Where to find help – at the end of each section we have indicated where you can get extra guidance if you need it.

Aim:

ANIMAL MEDICINES

PG.AM.1 Key

Standards

Only authorised veterinary medicines are used.

How you will be measured

PG.AM.1.a

POM-V products are prescribed by a vet.

PG.AM.1.b

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

PG.AM.2 Key

Standards

Veterinary medicines must be used appropriately. (Revised)

How you will be measured

PG.AM.2.a

Prescription-only medicines are used in accordance with the prescription.

PG.AM.2.b

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

PG.AM.2.c

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

PG.AM.3

Standards

Veterinary medicines must only be administered by demonstrably competent persons.

How you will be measured

PG.AM.3.a

Persons that inject pigs are deemed competent by a vet.

List of those deemed competent in VHP

PG.AM.3.1

Standards

At least one person who is responsible for overseeing use of medicines on the unit has undertaken training and holds a certificate of competence/attendance from training undertaken since January 2018. (New)

How you will be measured

PG.AM.3.1.a

Training course covers at least: - medicine types - antibiotic classes - medicine handling, administration & storage - recording requirements - avoiding residues - antimicrobial resistance - responsible use of antibiotics
  • Certificate of competence/attendance
  • Training records

PG.AM.4

Standards

Veterinary medicines must be stored appropriately. (Revised)

How you will be measured

PG.AM.4.a

Kept in a locked storage facility/room.

PG.AM.4.b

Stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

PG.AM.4.c

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

PG.AM.4.d

Medicines are not stored in the same refrigerator as food/drink.

PG.AM.4.e

Refrigerators are temperature checked at least weekly, whenever medicines are stored in them

PG.AM.4.f

Refrigerator temperature is within appropriate range for the products stored within.

Refrigerator temperature records

PG.AM.5

Standards

Purchase records for all veterinary medicines must be kept.

How you will be measured

PG.AM.5.a

Records detail: - identity of medicine - quantity - date of purchase - supplier name & address - batch number(s) and assigned bottle number if using for administration records - expiry date(s)

PG.AM.5.b

Medicine purchase records are kept for 5 years.

PG.AM.5.c

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

PG.AM.6 Key

Standards

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

How you will be measured

PG.AM.6.a

Records detail: - identity of medicine - date of administration - quantity administered - length of withdrawal period for meat - identification of the animal or group of animals administered - batch number or assigned bottle number linked back to purchase records - number of animals treated - date treatment finished - date animal becomes fit for human consumption - name of person administering medicine - reason for treatment

PG.AM.6.b

Medicine administration records are kept for 5 years.

Medicine administration records

PG.AM.7

Standards

Veterinary medicines, their containers and administration equipment must be disposed of responsibly. (Revised)

How you will be measured

PG.AM.7.a

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

PG.AM.7.b

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

PG.AM.7.c

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

PG.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.

PG.AM.7.e

Unused AI packs, which contain antibiotics, are disposed of as pharmacy waste not in the general waste.
  • Medicine disposal records
  • Waste transfer note/receipt

PG.AM.8 Key

Standards

Total antibiotics* used must be collated and uploaded onto AHDB Pork’s electronic medicine book (eMB).

How you will be measured

PG.AM.8.a

Data is uploaded on a quarterly basis, within 6 weeks from the last day of each quarter.

Previous four eMB reports

PG.AM.8.1

Standards

Collated antibiotic data must be reviewed at least annually with the designated vet. (Revised)

How you will be measured

PG.AM.8.1.a

As part of the review the vet makes recommendations for alternative disease prevention and control measures to minimise prophylactic use of antibiotics, where possible.

Record of review

PG.AM.8.2

Standards

Persistent high users of antibiotics* must develop and implement an Antibiotic Reduction Plan, in conjunction with their designated vet. (New)

*as defined, and kept under review, by the Pig Health and Welfare Council; indicated on the most recent eMB report.

How you will be measured

PG.AM.8.2.a

The Pig Health and Welfare Council’s template Antibiotic Reduction Plan is used to outline actions and monitor progress.

PG.AM.8.2.b

Antibiotic Reduction Plan outlines actions to be taken to reduce antibiotic use, with clear timescales for delivery.

PG.AM.8.2.c

Antibiotic Reduction Plan is being implemented, as indicated by vet on the QVR.
  • Antibiotic Reduction Plan
  • Previous four QVRs

PG.AM.9 Key

Standards

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. (Revised)

How you will be measured

PG.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).

Vet statement

PG.AM.9.1

Standards

The vet must at all times prescribe antibiotics in accordance with the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) Prescribing Principles for Antimicrobials, which reflect RUMA guidelines.

How you will be measured

PG.AM.9.1.a

Declaration to this effect signed by the vet on the previous four QVRs.

QVRs

PG.AM.9.2

Standards

The producer must take ultimate responsibility for correct antibiotic use on the unit.

How you will be measured

PG.AM.9.2.a

Declaration to this effect signed by the producer on the previous four QVRs.

QVRs

PG.AM.10 Key

Standards

Systems must be in place to ensure livestock receiving veterinary medicines are not presented for slaughter before the withdrawal period has expired. (Revised)

How you will be measured

PG.AM.10.a

Treated livestock are identifiable for the entire withdrawal period.

PG.AM.10.b

Prescribed withdrawal periods are complied with.

PG.AM.11

Standards

Procedures must be in place to deal appropriately with needles or part needles remaining in livestock. (Revised)

How you will be measured

PG.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

PG.AM.11.b

Broken needle policy is followed.

PG.AM.11.c

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

Broken needle policy

  • AM.2 – A 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 stands for ‘Prescription-Only Medicine – Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person (SQP, also known as RAMA – Registered Animal Medicines Advisor)’ and these products may                be prescribed by these registered qualified persons.

The use of antibiotics as growth promoters is illegal.

  • AM.3.1 – Courses include, but are not limited to, City & Guilds, NOAH/Lantra Antimicrobial Best Practice (Pig modules) and veterinary led training courses, as approved by Red Tractor. A list of approved courses can be found on the Red Tractor Assurance website. Certificates obtained from courses undertaken between 1 January 2018 and 31st October 2021 are acceptable as evidence
    of compliance, regardless of whether approved or not.

Fieldspeople attending contract sites may be considered as a person responsible for overseeing use of medicines on the unit. However if there is someone on the unit that is responsible for management            of medicines that person must also have undertaken training.

  • AM.5 – Assigned bottle number allows members to assign a bottle number in the purchase records and note the assigned number in the administration records and for those bulk buying medication so individual bottles can be accounted for in records.
  • 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 pigs 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. This could be a list in the VHP, medicine book or other document covering the necessary information will suffice as long as it can be correlated against other farm records such as farrowing/service records and associated medicine purchase records.
  • AM.8 – *NB this is only required for antibiotics, not other medicines or feed additives. It is not a requirement to use eMB as a daily record of medicines administered, although producers are free to do this if they wish.
  • 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.