2. Regulatory and legal considerations of anaesthetics used in food producing animals

Question 1

What must be in place to ensure human safety when consuming animals?

Answer 1

• Ensure that edible animal products are free from harmful residues- legal responsibility of the producers and Vets
• Labels for all approves drugs must provide a withdrawal tone for animals
• The effects that drugs have been tested a lot

Question 2

What responses can humans have to animal products still harbouring anaesthetic?

Answer 2

Malignant hyperthermia- severe reaction to particular medications used during general anaesthesia

Halothane hepatitis- associated with massive ventriloquist liver necrosis that leads to liver failure

Porphyria- liver disorder where porphyrins build up affecting the skin and nervous system

Allergic reactions

Question 3

What does the Veterinary Medicines Regulation do?

Answer 3

Provides legislative requirements concerning the manufacture, classification, supply, marketing and use of veterinary medicines.

Will be updated 28/01/22 for increasing safety measures and availability of veterinary medicines.

Question 4

What is the role of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate?

Answer 4

The national competent authority in the UK.

To deal with any complaints and provide insurance for veterinary staff.

Question 5

What legal requirements are there for food producing animals on medication?

Answer 5

Under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, all medicines obtained and used must be recorded. When administered, the safety of the animals and their products are monitored through the statutory residue surveillance scheme.

Pharmacovigilance is the term for ongoing monitoring of safety and ensures the safe use of effective medicines.

Question 6

What can happen if legislation is not followed?

Answer 6

Only authorised medicines can legally be used in the UK. Failure to abide can result in prosecution,

Question 7

What is the withdrawal period?

Answer 7

The time animals must not be on medication before safe to consume. Levels of drug in food must be below the maximum residue limit.

Withdrawal periods depend on the animal and the drug.

Question 8

Which drugs are commonly used in farm animal anaesthesia?

Answer 8

• Alpha-2 Agonists (detomidine)
• Barbiturates (thiopental)
• Benzodiazepines (diazepam)
• Local anaesthetics (lignocaine)
• Dissociatives (ketamine)
• Opioids (Morphine)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) (carprofen or meloxicam)
• Phenothiazines (acepromazine)
• Anaesthetic agents (propofol)

Question 9

Horses are classed as food-producing animals in the EU. What requirements are there for them?

Answer 9

No requirement to record medicines (excluding vaccines) in a horses passport. However vets must keep record of POM-V meds. Any substance on the essential substances list must be recorded on the passport.

The prescribing cascade relates to horses if no horse specific medicine exists.