13 February 2012 - APRUMA, the Alberta Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals, has launched a 'Best-practice framework for the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals in Alberta' (Canada). APRUMA is a joint initiative of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) and Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC).

The APRUMA initiative was inspired by EPRUMA, the European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals, and their framework document is based on the original EPRUMA document. It has been adapted to reflect the reality of food animal production in the Province of Alberta in Canada.

EPRUMA partners are delighted to see that the initiative is having a positive impact both in Europe and beyond. The EPRUMA 'Best-practice framework for the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals in the EU' is now available in ten languages (French, Czech, Dutch, English, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Romanian, Turkish) and further versions are being prepared. Furthermore, several countries are developing multi-stakeholder platforms to promote the responsible use of veterinary medicines, such as as AMCRA in Belgium, RUMA in the United Kingdom and, Vet+I in Spain.

See further details on www.apruma.ca.

More than 300 participants joined the FVE seminar on the theme ‘Antimicrobials: a true One-Health issue’ (Brussels, 18 November 2011), where representatives from the academic world in human and veterinary medicine, DG SANCO and the European Parliament presented their views to the audience.

Conclusions agreed upon stress that an appropriate use of antimicrobials is key to mitigating the risk of antimicrobial resistance, as pointed out by the FVE President, Dr Christophe Buhot. The veterinary profession conveyed its wish to work together with stakeholders to be part of the solution and announced a series of actions regarding antibiotics in veterinary medicine.

Veterinarians, farmers, the animal health industry and other stakeholders emphasised the importance of good animal husbandry, including biosecurity, good housing, nutrition, health plans and vaccination. This holistic approach also includes the responsible use of veterinary medicines under veterinary care.

See the conference conclusions, the programme and the presentations on the FVE website.

EPRUMA participated in the 'International Conference on Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Animals', held in Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands, on 14-16 November 2011. The conference gathered more than 200 delegates from a wide range of stakeholders from 23 countries.

At the event veterinarians, farmers, regulators, authorities, academics and industry exchanged views on the future path regarding the responsible use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine. The conference conclusions included the following points:

• There is consensus on many issues and all stakeholders need to work together while respecting and accepting the diverse reality across regions;
• Despite the complexity of the matters, the current knowledge base on the use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine allows for adequate decision-making and implementation;
• The availability of veterinary medicines, including antibiotics, differs from region to region; their future availability should be ensured to be able to treat animals;
• Educating veterinarians and farmers is critical to enhance responsible use and reach out to a wider public; the position of the veterinarian needs to be strengthened;
• Decisions regarding veterinary medicines, including antibiotics, should be science based, for which communication, dialogue and trust are paramount;
• All stakeholders have the responsibility to raise awareness and acceptance of responsible use of veterinary antibiotics to a wider audience.

The conference encouraged all EU Member States to emulate the RUMA initiative (UK) by establishing national Responsible Use partnerships and by producing detailed species specific guidelines for use by veterinarians and farmers. Such an initiative could be based on the EPRUMA framework document.

It is inspiring to see that RUMA-style initiatives are happening across the EU, for example in Belgium (AMCRA) and Spain (under the Vet+I partnership).

See further details on the conference website.

Brussels, 17 November 2011 – EPRUMA welcomes the Communication from the Commission entitled “Action plan against the rising threats from Antimicrobial Resistance” and its emphasis on Responsible Use.

Bio-security, good housing, good nutrition and herd health plans, coupled with appropriate vaccine use is all part of the Responsible Use approach, with diagnostics guiding the choice of antimicrobial.

EPRUMA has developed a comprehensive website – www.epruma.eu - where guidelines on Responsible Use are available in 10 languages. In order to move from the information-gathering phase to the communication phase, it is important that the Commission’s 5 year strategy supports communication with vets and farmers so that Responsible Use is reinforced as the norm in vets’ and farmers’ daily activities.

EPRUMA launches a video on the animal health industry's role regarding responsible use of veterinary medicines.

IFAH-Europe's Managing Declan O'Brien explains the role of the animal health industry in ensuring responsible use of veterinary medicines and the commitment to the EPRUMA initiative. He emphasises that responsible use is based on a holistic approach and that when disease occurs, diagnosis and treatment under veterinary care should follow.

Mr O'Brien stresses that veterinary medicines should be used according to the instructions given by the veterinarian and reaffirms IFAH-Europe's commitment to work with veterinarians, farmers and other stakeholders to promote the responsible use of veterinary medicines.

See the video by clicking on the image below or by visiting EPRUMA's Youtube channel.

The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) organises a conference entitled 'Antimicrobials: a true One-Health issue', which will be held in Brussels on 18 November 2011. The programme will look into challenges and opportunities in the medical and veterinary field.

The purpose of the event is to exchange information on the ways antimicrobials affect the health of people and animals and to propose actions to assure their efficacy and availability

The event is supported by the European Commission and the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

EPRUMA partners presented their initiative to promote the Responsible Use of veterinary medicines to the European Commission DG SANCO's Animal Health Advisory Committee, which is part of the Advisory Group on the Food Chain and Animal and Plant Health on 17th June 2011.

Declan O'Brien, on behalf of EPRUMA partners, explained that the motivation behind launching EPRUMA is to build stakeholder agreement on what constitutes Responsible Use of veterinary medicines. He emphasised that EPRUMA embodies good alignment and collaboration across European stakeholders on animal health. He stated that the goal of EPRUMA is to maintain the long-term efficacy of veterinary medicines.

The EPRUMA partnership considers that Responsible Use complements both policy and legislation in terms of striving to maintain the efficacy of antimicrobials. EPRUMA seeks to ensure that veterinary medicines, including antibiotics, are used according to the licencing conditions and advocates a holistic approach to disease prevention and control.

The presentation referred to the communications activities of EPRUMA and called for institutional support to communicate “Responsible Use” and make a real difference on the ground.

The European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals (EPRUMA) commented on the Heads of of Medicines Agencies' (veterinary) action plan on antimicrobials issues in May 2011.

In their joint response, EPRUMA partners welcome the HMA-V action plan. They acknowledge the need for new antimicrobials and agree the issue is complex requiring a multi-faceted approach and a broad stakeholder involvement.

They emphasise that biosecurity, good housing, proper nutrition, herd health plans along with vaccination will help to avoid disease and are part of Responsible Use as defined by EPRUMA. "The assistance fo the HMA-v in promoting these concepts at veterinary and farmer level would be much more effective in ensuring Responsible Use than removing the right of the vet to prescribe and dispense", says EPRUMA.

EPRUMA is pleased to announce the launch of the Turkish version of its booklet, entitled "Best-practice framework for the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals in the EU".

VISAD, the association representing the animal health industry in Turkey, has led the production of the booklet and is actively promoting it at national level.

The document is now available in 10 languages: Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Turkish and Spanish.

The World Veterinary Year 2011 was opened in Versailles on 24 January 2011 to mark the foundation of the first veterinary school in Lyon, France, in 1671.

The World Veterinary Year comprises a series of events that will be held both in Europe and across the world, such as the world conference on veterinary education (Lyon, France, 13-15 May 2011), the EU veterinary week (16-20 May 2011), and the world veterinary congress (Cape Town, South Africa, 10-14 October 2011).

During 2011, national veterinary institutions will also organise local events to raise public awareness about the importance of their profession and as a reminder that veterinarians have been serving humankind for 250 years.