April 16, 2014 

 
Canada to promote judicious use of antimicrobial drugs in food animal production

Due to antimicrobial use in veterinary medicine and food animal production, Health Canada's Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD) continues to promote the prudent use of antimicrobial drugs with the objective of minimising the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

AMR is a complex and evolving public health issue, involving many players in Canada and internationally. The VDD has been engaging provincial/territorial authorities, the pharmaceutical industry, veterinarians, food animal producers and other stakeholders to promote the judicious use of medically-important antimicrobial drugs in food animal production.

As part of these ongoing efforts, we are now moving forward, in collaboration with the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI), to work with other implicated stakeholders on the following two key measures: the removal of growth promotion and/or production claims of medically-important antimicrobial drugs; and the development of options to strengthen the veterinary oversight of antimicrobial use in food animals.

Similar measures are being implemented in the US over an anticipated three year transition. The VDD will continue to collaborate and align to the extent possible, for an efficient transition for all involved parties over the same time period.

Health Canada will consult impacted parties throughout the implementation of these two key measures in the Canadian context.