Guidelines for Prescribing, Authorising and Dispensing - Australian ...

‘professional intervention’ in the supply of a PAR to stock ‘under their care
and supervision’.
1.2.5 Veterinarians must be familiar with Commonwealth and state legislation, as
it applies to their obligations as a registered veterinarian in the state(s) in
which they practice, relating to the purchase, storage, supply and use of a
PAR.
1.2.6 The use of antibiotics is under increasing scrutiny, particularly in foodproducing
animals, because of the possibility of the occurrence of human
health hazards due to antibiotic residues, development of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria or resistance genes in food. Veterinarians are the trained
professionals who are expected to oversee the prudent use of antibiotics in
birds.
2 Responsibilities of the veterinarian in the supply of a PAR antibiotic
within the poultry industry
The AVA has developed Guidelines for Prescribing, Authorising and Dispensing
Veterinary Medicines. Some relevant points of these policies are included in the
following sections.
2.1 Professional intervention
2.1.1 Veterinarians should fulfil the definition of ‘professional intervention’ in the
supply chain of PAR medications. ‘Professional intervention’ can be defined
as intervention by a registered veterinarian between the drug wholesaler,
premix supplier or feed mill and the end user of the substance, in such a
way as to ensure that the drug is necessary, appropriate and will be used
(and withheld) correctly.
2.1.2 Veterinarians must keep a record of the drugs held in their possession in a
secured area. The date of supply, the drug used, the farmer’s name and
volume of supply must be recorded and authorised.
2.1.3 When supply is undertaken by the veterinarian, each container of the PAR
must bear labelling as required by law, including the name and address of
the veterinarian and the name of the client. It is desirable that the PAR be in
the labelled container in which it was purchased.
2.1.4 Written instructions as to drug use must be given to the end user by the
veterinarian, with clear details of method of administration, dose rate,
frequency and duration of treatment, precautions and withholding period;
batch number and expiry information are desirable. These instructions can
be part of specific disease control literature developed by the poultry
company and delivered with the PAR medication by the serviceman
undertaking dose calculations or physically administering the PAR.
2.2 Veterinary care and supervision of recipient stock
2.2.1 The veterinarian must not only be involved in the supply of a PAR, but must
also demonstrate due care and supervision of the recipient flock. This care
and supervision should be real and not merely nominal. When veterinary
board investigations are undertaken because of alleged improper PAR
supply, evidence will be required that the birds or flocks supplied with the
PAR are under the care of the veterinarian being investigated.
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AVA Prescribing and dispensing guidelines
Version 1.0 February 2005
Updated 02/09/08