What do the new antiparasitic rules mean for farmers?
- Farmers need to contact their vet for a prescription for wormers for gut, stomach and lung worms, coccidiosis, fluke and lice, fly and mite remedies for cattle, sheep and horses. This includes all injectable, drenches, pour-on, dips and bolus antiparasitic products.
- Farmers can use a prescription ID code to still buy these products where they usually get them e.g. from merchants, co-ops, pharmacies, veterinary practices, or other authorised retailers. Farmers can get the prescription ID code to take to their retailer directly from their vet. They can also receive the ID code via text message on their mobile phones through the NVPS system after contacting their vet.
What is the NVPS?
- The NVPS is the new National Veterinary Prescribing System implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Farmers may receive a text/SMS asking to be associated with a veterinary practice for the NVPS. Farmers may be associated with more than one practice.
How long is the prescription valid for and can it be partly dispensed?
- Farmers must get the prescribed medicines dispensed within 6 months.
- The prescription can be partly dispensed i.e. not all medicines on the prescription have to be dispensed at the same time, but it must be completely dispensed within the 6-month window.
- If a specific product is not available at the retailer you choose, the retailer can dispense a similar product with your agreement.
What is the Proper Assessment Protocol?
If farmers visit their usual vet for their prescription i.e. the vet already used for clinical services, this can be prescribed easily as the vet already knows and understand the parasite risks on the farm. If the farmer is obtaining the prescription from a vet who is unfamiliar with their farm, the vet is required to get more information about the farm on the parasite risks and treatments before they can responsibly prescribe any medicines. This required information is known as the Proper Assessment Protocol. This Protocol is not intended to be used for animals that are showing symptoms of ill health or disease that require further examination to determine appropriate diagnosis.
Why have these new rules been implemented?
Antiparasitic resistance is a growing concern in Ireland and is widespread. Resistance occurs when wormers and other parasite treatments do not kill the target parasite as effectively as they should. These rules have been implemented to help manage antiparasitic medicines in a way that delays resistance, so that the treatments remain effective for as long as possible.