Use of veterinary pharmaceuticals is much greater than is generally appreciated. Based upon annual 2004 data, an estimated 6050 tons of active substances went into the production of veterinary pharmaceuticals for the treatment of food animals in the EU, including 5393 tons of antibiotics and 194 tons of antiparasitics. U.K. data show that the proportion of veterinary pharmaceuticals sold for use in companion animals has increased from 30% to more than 50% in 27 years. Given that global meat production is projected to increase by 57% by 2050 and the market for companion animal pharmaceuticals is still growing, the use of veterinary pharmaceuticals will continue to increase. While veterinary pharmaceuticals may benefit the health and welfare of domestic animals and the efficiency of food animal production, they can contaminate the environment through the manufacturing process, treatment of food animals and companion animals, and disposal of carcasses, offal, urine, faeces, and unused products. This contamination is a threat to non-target species, including humans. The example of diclofenac and its impact on vultures illustrates the inadequacy of the current system of environmental risk assessment for veterinary pharmaceuticals. Current procedures require strengthening and the addition of a more proactive, holistic, One Health approach. We may never have the knowledge required to adequately assess the environ-mental risk of veterinary pharmaceuticals. Therefore, while we need to strengthen current systems of environmental impact assessment where possible, we also need to sensibly foster the precautionary principle and aim to prevent environmental contamination with veterinary pharmaceuticals in the first place. To do so, we advocate a "cradle-to-cradle" stewardship programme for veterinary pharmaceuticals that promotes a culture of environmental responsibility, involves all sectors of society and considers environmental effects during their production, use, and disposal

One Health Approach to the use of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals

BOGLIANI, GIUSEPPE;
2014-01-01

Abstract

Use of veterinary pharmaceuticals is much greater than is generally appreciated. Based upon annual 2004 data, an estimated 6050 tons of active substances went into the production of veterinary pharmaceuticals for the treatment of food animals in the EU, including 5393 tons of antibiotics and 194 tons of antiparasitics. U.K. data show that the proportion of veterinary pharmaceuticals sold for use in companion animals has increased from 30% to more than 50% in 27 years. Given that global meat production is projected to increase by 57% by 2050 and the market for companion animal pharmaceuticals is still growing, the use of veterinary pharmaceuticals will continue to increase. While veterinary pharmaceuticals may benefit the health and welfare of domestic animals and the efficiency of food animal production, they can contaminate the environment through the manufacturing process, treatment of food animals and companion animals, and disposal of carcasses, offal, urine, faeces, and unused products. This contamination is a threat to non-target species, including humans. The example of diclofenac and its impact on vultures illustrates the inadequacy of the current system of environmental risk assessment for veterinary pharmaceuticals. Current procedures require strengthening and the addition of a more proactive, holistic, One Health approach. We may never have the knowledge required to adequately assess the environ-mental risk of veterinary pharmaceuticals. Therefore, while we need to strengthen current systems of environmental impact assessment where possible, we also need to sensibly foster the precautionary principle and aim to prevent environmental contamination with veterinary pharmaceuticals in the first place. To do so, we advocate a "cradle-to-cradle" stewardship programme for veterinary pharmaceuticals that promotes a culture of environmental responsibility, involves all sectors of society and considers environmental effects during their production, use, and disposal
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11571/972834
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