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Environment & Sustainability

How do veterinary medicines contribute to ‘One Health’ and sustainability?

Veterinary medicines play a key role in advancing the principles of One Health, a holistic approach that recognises the deep interdependence between human, animal, and environmental health. Their use not only safeguards livestock, pets, and wildlife, but also mitigates risks that carry profound economic and social consequences. For example, ineffective disease management can result in livestock losses amounting to £710 million, while lack of access to veterinary medicines can drive a 5% increase in hunger due to reduced food security.

Conversely, targeted and responsible use of veterinary medicines leads to tangible benefits. A HealthforAnimals report highlights a 10% reduction in disease prevalence and a measurable decrease in livestock-related greenhouse gas emissions, strongly supporting the transition towards sustainable agriculture. Effective disease control also enhances animal welfare and boosts the supply of safe, high-quality food products, reinforcing resilience in food systems for communities around the world.

In addition, our Animal Health Manifesto (available here) underscores the environmental and economic importance of sustained investment in animal health and notes that every pound spent on animal medicines provides a multiple return in productivity and sustainability. These combined efforts, driven by innovation, stewardship, and collaboration, help ensure the advancement of One Health priorities, building a more sustainable and secure future for all, while preserving biodiversity and reducing the environmental footprint of animal husbandry and farming.

What is the environmental impact of veterinary medicines?

Veterinary medicines are essential for maintaining animal health and promoting sustainable agriculture, yet they can have the potential to impact the environment if not managed properly. There is potential for residues from treatments such as antibiotics and antiparasitics to enter the soil and water, such as through animal waste or improper disposal, which could harm non-target organisms, contribute to pollution, and encourage the development of resistant microbes. To address these concerns, the animal health sector and the regulatory authorities carry out environmental risk assessments prior to products being authorised and placed on the market. Such assessments can lead to products being rejected and deemed not suitable to be licensed for veterinary use or can lead to appropriate risk mitigation warnings being placed on product labels. Collaboration and educational initiatives involving veterinary professionals and farmers ensures the adoption of best practices for medicine use helping to minimise environmental impacts.

Responsible use and administration of veterinary medicines by using them only when necessary and at correct dosages, further reduces the risk of contamination. Stewardship programmes, like the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA), as well as sector-specific initiatives like the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS), Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS), Controlling Antiparasitic Resistance in Equines Responsibly (CANTER), and RUMA Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA CA&E), provide education and practical guidelines for every stage of medicine management. By combining regulation, innovation, and stewardship, the industry advances the One Health vision, ensuring the benefits of veterinary medicines are balanced with the protection of natural ecosystems for future generations.