Annual Report 2000 - Australian Veterinary Association

Board ReportsNational Registration Authority (NRA)AVA continues to maintain a good working relationship with the NRAand meets regularly with NRA and AVCARE (National Association forCrop Protection and Animal Health) on a range of policy andtechnical issues on the registration and control of use of veterinarydrugs and chemicals.During the year the NRA continued to strengthen its complianceactivities, particularly in relation to supply of unregistered productsand the Hormonal Growth Promotants (HGP) control program. Aveterinary chemical manufacturer was heavily fined for illegalsupply of an S4 antibiotic product. This is a strong sign that the NRAis prepared to crackdown on the illegal supply of veterinary drugs.There have been a number of reviews undertaken by the NRA,including virginiamycin, diazinon, dichlorvos and the special reviewof sulphonamides. A review of the possible effects on farmers usingsheep dip chemicals has also been undertaken.AVA is hopeful that prophylactic uses of virginiamycin will beretained. Many of the oral sulphonamide uses in food animals arelikely to be removed.JETACAR (Joint Expert Technical Advisory Committee onAntibiotic Resistance)AVA continued to play a significant role in relation to JETACAR. Inputfrom the AVA and the work done by Kevin Doyle (largely AVAfunded)in his role as a member of JETACAR contributed considerablyto the relatively balanced report from JETACAR when compared tothe outcomes of similar committees in other countries.The government has largely supported JETACAR recommendationsand established working groups to assist with implementation. AVAwill maintain a key role in this process.Animal Health Australia (AHA)AVA has a good working relationship with AHA. Significant changeswere made to the animal health program management structurewithin AHA this year. We believe these changes will enhance AHA’sdelivery of programs. AVA representatives have been nominated forcommittees oversighting activities within each program area.AVA has also played a major part in working through contractualconcerns raised about the Accreditation Program for AustralianVeterinarians (APAV) with AHA. Wording of the application form andAPAV booklet has been amended in a way that should resolve ourconcerns.GovernmentThe organisational structure of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry(AFFA) changed significantly in the latter half of 2000. The changesand how they would affect the management of animal health andfood safety policy were a major point for discussions with AFFA inOctober.A key change was the decision to move quarantine policy fromwithin AQIS to a separate division of the department (Market Accessand Biosecurity).AFFA assured us that the intention was to maintain, if notstrengthen, the importance of sound science in biosecurity(quarantine) decisions taken by government.Other issues raised with AFFA were:■ The importance of the administration of non-health drugsremaining with NRA in relation to the Review of CommonwealthPublic Health and Safety Regulations■ The Government’s response to the JETACAR Report and thefuture role for AVA in input to implementation of therecommendations.■ Rural Summit processes and our disappointment that AVA wasexcluded from the summit convened by Deputy Prime MinisterJohn Anderson■ Progress on horseshoe levy arrangements■ Export control for veterinary anabolics and our support forgovernment in finally dealing with this issue■ Animal Welfare with particular focus on the caged hens reviewAQIS (Australian Quarantine Inspection Service)AVA continued to provide input to the activities of AQIS in quarantineand food safety areas. AQIS appreciates the technical and practicalexpertise AVA has in terms of quarantine issues.The AVA National Veterinarian, Kevin Doyle coordinates responses torequests for comment on proposed animal importation protocols forthe AVA. The AQIS Quarantine Advisory Committee considerschanges to the draft protocols based on our responses and thosefrom other interested groups.Member servicesMember subscriptionsTotal membership at the end of September 2000 was 4,605, anincrease of 171 over the previous year. This total included 542 newmembers (293 ordinary and 249 student members).ConferencesThe 2000 AVA Conference in Perth was very successful and wasattended by 734 registrants and speakers. It will produce asubstantial surplus of more than $90,000. The venue was excellentand the scientific and social activities were well organised,interesting and enjoyable.262000 Annual Report - Australian Veterinary Association