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1.3 Relationship between the ATCvet system and the ATC system for medicines for human
use
The ATCvet system is based on and annually updated according to the changes in the ATC
system for substances used in human medicine. Many of the substances may thus not have a well
established use or may be of limited relevance for veterinary medicine. However,
pharmacotherapy in veterinary medicine is rapidly developing, and substances and groups of
drugs regarded to be of limited relevance some years ago, are now included in armamentarium of
the veterinarians.
The ATCvet system as it is outlined in the ATCvet Index and Guidelines for ATCvet
classification should be regarded as a maximum selection to choose from when classifying
products in veterinary medicine. Derived from the ATC system the ATCvet system is modified
with some minor adaptations created to better fit the system to its purpose. In most cases an
ATCvet code can be created by placing the letter Q in front of an existing ATC code in the
human ATC system when classifying a product in the ATCvet system. In some cases, specific
ATCvet codes are created. An additional 1 st level, QI - Immunologicals, is also included to
accommodate vaccines and immunologicals according to species.
1.4 The ATCvet classification systems
In both the ATC and the ATCvet systems, preparations are divided into groups, according to
their therapeutic use. First, they are divided into 15 anatomical groups (1st level), classified as
QA-QV in the ATCvet system.
Within most of the 1st level groups, preparations are subdivided into different therapeutic main
groups (2nd level), coded for example as QA01, QA02, QA03. Two levels of
chemical/therapeutic/pharmacological subgroups (3rd and 4th levels), e.g. QA02A, QA02B. at
the 3rd level and QA02AA, QA02AB etc at the 4th level, provide further subdivisions. At a 5th
level, e.g. QA02AA01, chemical substances are classified.
Anatomical groups (1st level):
ATCvet ATC
1st level
QA Alimentary tract and metabolism A
QB Blood and blood forming organs B
QC Cardiovascular system C
QD Dermatologicals D
QG Genito-urinary system and sex hormones G
QH Systemic hormonal preparations, excl. sex hormones and insulins H
QI Immunologicals -
QJ Antiinfectives for systemic use J
QL Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents L
QM Musculo-skeletal system M
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