Veterinary medicinal products; information on traffic monitoring

In Bavaria, the district administrative authorities and the Bavarian Food Safety and Veterinary Control Authority (KBLV) are responsible for monitoring compliance with pharmaceutical regulations by animal owners and veterinarians.

Medicinal products are used equally in human and veterinary medicine to treat diseases and to influence bodily functions and conditions. The use of medicinal products in veterinary medicine is viewed ambivalently by the public, particularly when medicinal products are used in food-producing animals.
There is no doubt that our pets have a right to veterinary care. This is enshrined in the Animal Welfare Act. It is a matter of course for pet owners that their pets have access to effective medicines in the event of illness. However, the same must also apply to the care of our farm animals. Despite this, the use of veterinary medicines in these animals is often viewed critically and presented in a predominantly negative light in the media. However, the legal regulations governing the use of medicinal products in food-producing animals ensure that the safety of the food obtained from these animals is guaranteed.

The legal basis for veterinary medicinal products can be found in European and national law, which is monitored and enforced by the federal government and, in particular, the federal states.

At EU level, Regulation (EU) 2019/6 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on veterinary medicinal products (EU Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation) has been in force since 28.01.2022. In Germany, it is supplemented by the "Act on the Trade in Veterinary Medicinal Products and on the Implementation of Union Legislation on Veterinary Medicinal Products" - the "Veterinary Medicinal Products Act" (TAMG) for short.
There are a number of additional special regulations for veterinary medicinal products, for example

• Veterinary Medicinal Products Application and Proof Ordinance
• Ordinance on veterinary in-house pharmacies
• Guidelines for the careful handling of antimicrobial veterinary medicinal products

The provisions of veterinary medicinal product legislation ensure that our animals are supplied with medicinal products and also ensure that the use of medicinal products does not cause any harm to consumers of foodstuffs obtained from animals.
For this reason, pets are generally divided into those species that are (possibly) used for food production and those that are not intended for human consumption.

In the case of food-producing animals, only medicinal products whose active substances have been tested and evaluated with regard to their residue behavior in foodstuffs obtained from animals (meat, eggs, milk) may be used. If necessary, a withdrawal period must be observed after the use of these medicinal products, during which the animal may not be slaughtered and products from this animal (e.g. milk or eggs) may not be used for human consumption.
These restrictions do not apply to pets.

The veterinarian may dispense veterinary and - in certain cases - human medicinal products in the necessary quantities to owners of the animals treated by him as part of the operation of a veterinary medicine cabinet. In this case, animal owners must use the corresponding medicinal products in accordance with the veterinary treatment instructions. Veterinary medicinal products obtained from a pharmacy or retail outlet without the involvement of a veterinarian may only be used in accordance with the terms of their authorization (see package leaflet).

In the case of food-producing animals, a record must be kept of all medicines used in accordance with the legal requirements. At the same time, the veterinarian fills out a dispensing and application record. This must be handed over to the animal owner immediately. The documentation must be kept by the animal owners and the treating veterinarians for 5 years and presented to the competent authorities on request.

Incidentally, vaccines and serums for animals do not fall within the scope of the Veterinary Medicinal Products Act in Germany. Special regulations from Regulation (EU) 2019/6 and the Veterinary Vaccines Regulation apply to these preparations.