EPRUMA is a multi-stakeholder platform linking best practice with animal health and public health.

Goal
It aims to ensure best practice through responsible use of medicines in the prevention and control of animal diseases.

Established in 2005, it works to promote the responsible use of medicines in animals in the EU (as defined in Directive 2001/82/EC as amended by Directive 2004/28/EC) in order to maintain efficacy and both prevent and minimise adverse reactions.

How it works
EPRUMA pursues its goal by facilitating and promoting a co-ordinated and integrated approach, involving all stakeholders, including European

• veterinarians
• farmers
• manufacturers of animal medicines
• feed manufacturers
• professionals working in animal health, sanitary security and sustainable agriculture
• pharmacists.

They develop framework documents on how to best use veterinary medicines and vaccines. In other words, EPRUMA works on broad principles at EU level, which in turn can be tailored nationally to reflect local specificities at EU Member States.

An example of this is the "Best practice framework for the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals", which EPRUMA launched in 2008, and is available in various European languages.

EPRUMA partners are committed to work together to ensure safe use of veterinary medicines and to minimise the development of resistance.

See further details on the EPRUMA partners here.