Government plans on OP dips a "logistical nightmare" says
NOAH
The National Office of Animal Health is astonished that the Government
has felt the need to resort to precipitate action on OP
dips by recalling all current packs within only 20 working days.
"The withdrawal will cause a logistical nightmare," says NOAH
director Roger Cook. "Hard-pressed sheep farmers need to return all their stocks to
their distributors, who then have to return them to the manufacturers. All this needs to
be done by 31 January - a seemingly impossible task. We very much regret that the farming
industry has not been consulted on how a recall could be more sensibly handled."
Manufacturers have co-operated with regulators and allied organisations
over the years to ensure that these products, so important to sheep welfare and for farmer
choice, could remain available. "We welcome the advice from the regulatory committees
that there is no need for a general withdrawal of OPs from
the market. But the plan for dips is totally disproportionate: it will effectively
introduce a ban by removing all stock from the market - down to farm level - many months
before there is any hope of replacement packs being available," says Mr Cook. It is
important to note that MAFF themselves have no criticism of the product - only the packs.
"Following the Institute of Occupational Medicine’s Report,
companies presented proposals for redesigned packs to the Veterinary
Products Committee in all good faith," he says. "It was no surprise that the
IOM concluded that concentrate represented the greatest hazard - this has been known for
years. But any new pack design has to be economically viable and practical.
Different options were put forward from different companies - but even
if these are acceptable to the authorities, and they will take time to develop. There will
be no OP dip this spring - and very few, if any, products
will return."
"The industry supports the safe use of its products," says Mr
Cook. "Following the VPC recommendations in July, all sectors of the industry worked
with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to produce a laminated sheet to remind farmers
of the precautions they should be taking. These were sent to every sheep farmer only last
month as a reminder of label precautions. What a waste of public money!
"We have always taken every step to make sure that farmers are
aware of the need to use these potentially hazardous products with caution," he adds.
"And we were pleased by the very recent report from the
Committee on Toxicology, which represented a very thorough investigation - and saw no
need for a ban."
"In the end, it will be sheep farmers - and their sheep, who will
lose by this decision," says Mr Cook.
It is important to remember why these products are used for sheep:
1. Animal welfare
UK sheep are prey to a wide range of debilitating and potentially life
threatening parasites. Following the previous government’s disastrous decision to end
compulsory treatment, sheep scab is now endemic throughout Great Britain. Afflicted sheep
are so damaged by the irritation of the parasite that they can stop feeding, lose
condition, fertility falls and in extreme cases animals may die or be destroyed.
Blowfly strike, where maggots literally eat the sheep alive, can take
hold in a few days, animals die of toxic shock or have to be destroyed. Other parasites,
once rare, such as lice and keds, have increased since the end of compulsory dipping.
OP sheep dips have the widest range of
efficacy against ectoparasites affecting sheep.
2. Environmental Protection
It is important to remember why OP
products came into use for dipping - they were seen as ‘kind’ to the environment
when HCH dips were withdrawn in the mid 1980’s. Now there is more choice for farmers,
but every product has its advantages and disadvantages and SP dips, for example, have been
cited as being a potential environmental hazard if disposal instructions are not followed
properly.
3. Farm Costs
The ability of the farmer to choose the most appropriate product for
his or her own particular circumstance is vital. At this critical time for sheep farming, OP dips are perceived by many farmers as being the most cost
effective for them. The products’ broad spectrum can lead to 'added value': by also
killing parasites of minor clinical importance, the sheep skins will be better quality and
increase the value of the animals.
4. The right to choose
Farmers still choose OP dips -
15 000 have chosen to undertake the certificate of competence to dip, and, despite 10
years of bad publicity about OPs, the proportion of OP dips in all sheep ectoparasite sales is now rising,
currently standing at 27%.(3) This rise in OP usage is
significant as it demonstrates the continuing faith of farmers in the products to protect
the health and welfare of their flocks.
No one has ever been forced to use OPs,
and, before this news, there was a very wide choice of products available. Farmers, like
all consumers, should have the right to make an informed choice of the right product for
them and their animals.
20 December 1999
Notes for Editors
For further information contact Roger Cook or Alison
Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH
website.
The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1
January 1986 to represent the UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market
licensed animal health products. The association has 36 corporate members and 11 associate members.
In 1998 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the £384 million UK animal health
market, with additional valuable exports.
Sales of ectoparasiticides, showing the rise in
proportion of OP products, representing an actual increase
in sales, are set out:
|
1996/7 |
|
1998/9 |
| Endectocides |
5% |
|
25.9% |
| OP Dips |
23% |
|
27.3% |
| SP Dips |
38% |
|
10.3% |
| All others (pour-ons etc) |
34% |
|
36% |
| Value (ex manufacturer) |
£13.42m |
|
£16.06m |
See also
Briefing document "Organophosphates
for animal health"
|
