Switzerland, less hindrance to the supply of veterinary medicines

New consultations by the FDHA on the import of foreign animal medicines and reducing the development of antibiotic resistance

The supply of veterinary medicines and food safety are to be improved, therefore their import by veterinarians is simplified.
In addition, it is intended to reduce the consumption of antibiotics and thus curb the development of antibiotic resistance.
On March 25, the Federal Department of the Interior (FDHA) launched the consultation on amendments to the Ordinance on Veterinary Medicinal Products (OMVet), which will end on July 9, 2021.

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Increasingly reduced choice for animals

Sufficient veterinary medicines are needed to treat sick animals, and this is increasingly difficult as the choice is getting smaller and smaller.
Veterinary medicines are almost exclusively produced abroad. Imported veterinary medicines no longer require a special licence from Swissmedic.
For imports from countries with an equivalent veterinary medicine control, a notification to the USAV is sufficient, with some exceptions.
However, the conditions for import remain the same, so that the safety of medicines and foodstuffs is guaranteed.

Enable comparison of bactericide consumption.

The System for Information on Antibiotics in Veterinary Medicine (SIAMV) has been in operation since January 1, 2019.
Veterinarians will record all antibiotics they prescribe in the system. Evaluation of this data will allow comparison of antibiotic consumption across different animal-holding companies and veterinary practices.
OMVet now provides the legal basis to take steps to reduce antibiotic consumption where necessary.
Not all antibiotics are equally suitable for the treatment of bacterial diseases. Some of them are reserved for the treatment of serious diseases in humans.
Therefore, it is important that antibiotics that are effective in milder diseases are also available. Only with the right selection and the least possible use of antibiotics can the development of antibiotic resistance be contained.
The use of unsuitable antibiotics, as well as their over-consumption, can promote this development. As a result, antibiotics lose some or all of their effectiveness.

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The revision also includes new provisions on veterinary medicines for bees and other insects.
Finally, several updates, clarifications, and simplifications were adopted to reflect the views of enforcement agencies and veterinarians.