The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has expressed concern following the announcement by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate regarding the reclassification of Zolvix, an anthelmintic (wormer) for sheep, from POM-V to POM-VPS.
This means that this anthelmintic can now be prescribed by Pharmacists and Suitably Qualified Persons as well as vets.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate said increasing the availability of this anthelmintic will help it to be incorporated into strategic worm control programmes on farms in line with best practice guidance on worm control.
The VMD said this could result in long term health benefits for sheep.
However, BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: “We know that resistance to anthelmintics is increasing in grazing animals and needs to be addressed if the livestock industry is to avoid a potentially disastrous situation of being unable to tackle parasites.
“The reclassification of Zolvix from POM-V to POM-VPS is in direct opposition to the trend in Europe, where we are seeing increased control over dispensing of anthelmintics in species where resistance is a serious threat to animal welfare and profitable production; we're extremely concerned that we might start seeing resistance develop in group 4 as a result.
“BVA believes that prescribing of anthelmintics requires a level of control best provided by a veterinary surgeon who has the animals under his/her care, and is based on a sound clinical diagnosis, in order to protect animal welfare and safeguard the efficacy of these products for the future."
