EPRUMA publishes new best-practice guidance for anthelmintic use in food-producing animals

The European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals (EPRUMA) has launched a new publication entitled: EPRUMA best-practice framework on the use of anthelmintics in food-producing animals. Anthelmintic resistance predominantly affects sheep, goats, cattle and horses and has serious implications on animal health and wellbeing, and subsequently on productivity of livestock. With this brochure EPRUMA promotes coordinated efforts of all involved stakeholders.

The brochure includes general information on the parasitic worms known as helminths that cause
infections in cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and horses. It also promotes best practices that help to minimise the impact of infection and increase the response to treatment and prevent development of resistance to anthelmintics. This guidance document highlights the commitment of EPRUMA partners to the responsible use of these products by raising awareness of this challenge and providing best practice recommendations in order to ensure efficacy of anthelmintics in the future.

EPRUMA Chair, Rens van Dobbenburgh, commented “As EPRUMA we have been promoting the responsible use of veterinary medicines for more than a decade, in particular of antibiotics, as a response to the developing threat of antibiotic resistance. Nevertheless, EPRUMA partners acknowledge the emerging risk of anthelmintic resistance as another challenge for the animal health sector. Preserving the efficacy of anthelmintic treatments to safeguard animal health and welfare is essential. It is time to take action to promote the responsible use of veterinary anthelmintics through implementation of best practices in food-producing animals and to ensure healthy animals as well as livestock production in Europe.”