[Aunt Sally]

EDIT:This information has now been superseded by the VDM update:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=46390.msg572598#msg572598



SUPPLY AND USE OF FLUBENVET PREMIXTURES (POULTRY WORMERS) TO THE DOMESTIC KEEPER OF ANIMALS

UPDATE NOTIFICATION FROM THE VETERINARY MEDICINES DIRECTORATE (VMD)

Following clarification from the VMD, you were recently informed by Janssen Animal Health that the supply and use of Flubenvet 2.5% Premixture 240g  Pack was not covered by exemptions for the domestic keeper of animals in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.  This is because the exemption only covers a product which makes up to 30kg of final feed.  Therefore, in order to supply and use such a premixture, a supplier has to be approved as a Category 8 Distributor and the user approved as Manufacturer of Medicated Feedingstuffs, by the VMD’s Animal Medicines Inspectorate (AMI).

 This information sent out by Janssen Animal Health was correct.

To complete this information, this rule also applies to Flubenvet 2.5% Premixture 2.4kg bags and any other product that is defined as a premixture in Schedule 5 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2009.

Since these rules were confirmed to the industry, the VMD has been made aware that the unavailability of Flubenvet 2.5% Premixture 240g Pack to the domestic market was causing difficulties to domestic keepers with large numbers of birds.
The VMD has carefully reviewed the comments we have received and would like to state our revised position.

CHANGE:  Flubenvet 2.5% Premixture 240g can be used by the domestic keeper of animals without approval as a Manufacturer of Medicated Feedingstuffs, from the AMI, provided the supply is in accordance with a medicated feedingstuff prescription.

NO CHANGE:  No one can supply Flubenvet 2.5% Premixture 240g (and 2.4kg) packs or any other premixture EXCEPT an AMI approved Category 8 distributor.

NO CHANGE:  Premixtures which make up a final feed not exceeding 30kg i.e. Flubenvet 1% Premixture 60g Pack, may be supplied to domestic poultry keepers, without AMI approval as a Manufacturer of Medicated Feedingstuffs, by veterinary surgeons, SQP retailers and pharmacists, under the exemption.  Therefore this product is easily accessible to the domestic keepers of small amounts of animals.

 It may help if we clarify the term “Domestic keeper”. This means that  eggs/meat/milk etc. produced by the domestic keeper’s animals must be  solely for personal consumption. The domestic keeper must not sell eggs, meat or milk to third parties by any outlet as this would constitute a commercial activity for which the exemptions do not apply.  This is in the interests of safety to human health.

The VMD intends to carry out a full review of the supply and use of products to the domestic market in order to make any necessary adjustments to the  legislation and controls from October 2010 when we next amend the Veterinary Medicines Regulations to meet the domestic keeper’s needs whilst ensuring the safe and correct supply and use of the products.

Should you require any further information, please ring Janis McDonald at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Telephone 01932 338307  j.mcdonald@vmd.defra.gsi.gov.uk

Should you wish to make an application for approval as a manufacturer of medicated feedingstuffs if your business is commercial (non domestic), or as a Category 8 distributor, please contact the AMI. Telephone 02476849260   c.crowley@vmd.defra.gsi.gov.uk

[poultrygeist]

Does this mean that 'farmgate' sales as defined by DEFRA are still classed as domestic ?

ROb

[Aunt Sally]

I believe you now need a mixing licence to buy Flubenvet 2.5% Premixture.

[hillfooter]

The b******s  .   Soon no medication which actually is effective will be available to the amateur.  All these regulations are encouraged by trade associations who are intent on securing a monopoly on use of such medication.  The same is true of the use of pesticides and the electrical industry (with which I'm familiar) who have tied up the market in regulation so you can't do anything yourself anymore and you have to emply someone from a trade monopoly. When unions used to do it in the 60's it was refered to as restrictive practises but now it's more subtly done through legislation and burocrasy.  The result is that this is creating a market for the quack companies which sell ineffective patented medications outside the regulations because they don't contain active ingredients.  We will be ripped off and animals will suffer and the hobbist will be driven out of a perfectly innocent pastime.  

Regulation and burocrasy are killing this country.  Sorry rant over!

[Kate and her Ducks]

The 1% stuff is the same drug as the 2.5% stuff, just lots more expensive.

So apparently those of us too thick to mix 1 dose of white powder into some feed will be able to mix 2.5 doses of a white powder into some feed.

Thank god there are people cleverer than us up high to look after us.

[hillfooter]

Yep 5+ times more expensive.  Doesn't make the slightest sense.

[Aunt Sally]

I've had this information from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate today and it's good news.




TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN         Date: 3 December 2009

SUPPLY AND USE OF PREMIXTURES BY THE DOMESTIC KEEPER.

INFORMAL CONSULTATION ON PROPOSALS FOR AMENDING THE VETERINARY MEDICINES REGULATIONS 

Background

You may be aware that there has recently been much discussion about the supply and use of the Flubenvet Wormer premixtures to the domestic poultry market.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) clarified the rules on the exemptions we have provided in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations for the domestic keeper and Janssen Animal Health publicised this information.

It should be noted that although this issue is related to the Flubenvet premixtures, the rules apply to all premixtures and all domestic keepers of animals, not just poultry

As a result of the clarification, the VMD received further information which explained the difficulties experienced by domestic keepers related to availability of a cost effective wormer medication. We have acted on this information and announced that we would allow domestic keepers to mix both the 60g and 240g Flubenvet Premixture products without being approved by the Animal Medicines Inspectorate (AMI) provided they do not sell eggs or meat to third parties.   Nevertheless, our legislation still requires the suppliers of the 240g Flubenvet Premixture to be approved as a distributor as a premixture which is sufficient to manufacture more than 30kg of final feed is not covered under the exemption.

We also undertook to review the exemptions for domestic keepers and their suppliers to determine whether further changes to the rules would be appropriate for the new Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) due to come into force on 1 October 2010. 

The VMD would like to take the opportunity to ask you and any other interested parties for your opinions or any other comments on these changes for the 2010 VMR to ensure they achieve our aim and that they are based on the best available information. 

Our aim is to ensure proportionate regulation for domestic keepers which permits the products to be supplied with ease and enables the domestic keeper to have the product mixed into feed as necessary, whilst ensuring that the requirements for the safe use of these products in animals reared for human consumption are not undermined.

[matilda duck]

Aunt Sally that sounds brilliant!  But what does it mean in plain English for a thicko like me :blink:    Sorry.

[Aunt Sally]

I was hoping no one would ask me that 

Basically it means that you can now buy the 240g 2.5% formulation as well as the new one without having to have a mixers license.  So it is again much cheaper for us to use flubenvet for small flocks.

We are not allowed to sell meat or eggs when we do use it though.

[matilda duck]

Sorry for asking    Makes sense now!  Thankyou.

[Aunt Sally]

Please refere to:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=48541.msg572598#msg572598

as this information is now out of date.

[hillfooter]

Well it looks like common sense is starting to prevail however suppliers still will need to be approved as they are not covered by the exemption so I expect this will still restrict the suppliers of 240mg 2.5% Flubenvet for the hobbyist. Or have I misunderstood?

I also agree with Grannie Annie that worms aren't as big an issue as most people think and only when you keep poultry intensively on the same ground are you likely to see a problem.  I also suspect the reason we don't see them more is that evidence of their presence is only seen under microscopic examination for worm eggs in droppings.  You are only likely to see roundworms passed whole which are are just a part of the potential worm problem.

HF