The federal government published Proposed Changes to the Food and Drug Regulations Related to Antimicrobial Resistance July 2, kicking off a 75 day public comment period.

Under the proposed changes regulations governing the importation of active pharmaceutical ingredients used to manufacture antibiotics used in animal agriculture will be tightened, importation of antibiotics by producers for their own use will be restricted, the use of antibiotics for growth promotion will be eliminated and a new structure designed to speed up the approval in Canada of animal health products used in other countries in place of antibiotics will be created.

Dr Leigh Rosengren, a Veterinary Epidemiologist with Rosengren Epidemiology Consulting, says the proposed changes will benefit those who produce food animals.

Dr Leigh Rosengren-Rosengren Epidemiology Consulting:

I believe, for the vast majority of producers, these proposed amendments will have very little effect on them at the farm level.

Many producers are not using APIs, many producers are not bringing in their own antimicrobials or drugs through the own use importation loophole so those changes won't affect them.

It may affect the supplier that's supplying to them but, for the vast majority of producers, that won't affect them.

They may be affected by the increased access to the veterinary health products and that's a good impact on the farm.

As an industry we will see a wonderful benefit, because what they are doing is they are increasing transparency in how we use veterinary pharmaceuticals in Canada and they are going to satisfy demands that we've heard from trading partners for years that these regulations need to be tightened up.

Dr Rosengren suggests we need to be aware of what products are being used, how much is being used and why they're being used.