This article, from the important 'Pig Progress' is unusual because it spells out in detail the power of veterinarians on prescription of antibiotics and their total control of what goes into Britain’s animals.
When antibiotic resistance is found in Britain’s livestock, the blame lies with the vets. They are fully and totally responsible. They prescribed the drugs for profit.
The story can be read to suggest that smuggling of veterinary medicines, in which vets had to be involved and which the government failed to stop for six years, is responsible for antibiotic resistance in Britain's livestock, when eventually they are forced to admit MRSA in pigs and calves.
British vets, farming organisations and farming media have long shown an extraordinary fascination with smuggling. Thank goodness they know nothing about it. Whoever created the cover-ups left audit trails a mile wide.
They got away with blaming IIIIM (imaginary illegal imported infected meat) for the triple epidemics in 1999-2001, simply because nobody did the work on where the stories came from, or spotted the technical faults in the stories.
The writer was lucky, or unlucky, as a former shipbroker and customs agent, now at the epicentre of epidemics, he already knew a little about smuggling, spotted the deceptions early and reported them to the competent authorities in writing immediately.
All the evidence has been preserved safely off-shore.
Find the full article here
UK: 13 convicted - Europe’s biggest ever illegal veterinary medicine business
//12 Jul 2011
Thirteen people have been convicted in connection with Europe’s biggest ever illegal veterinary medicine business in which more than £6 million of products were smuggled to the UK, risking the health of people and animals...
...Six other key players unlawfully distributed the products on the black market to British farms, stables, kennels and vet surgeries. Three other major customers were convicted, as well as one man responsible for laundering the proceeds.
Steve Dean, Chief Executive of the Government’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), which prosecuted the case, said, “This was a significant commercial enterprise which seriously attacked the principle of safe and effective veterinary medicines.
“Incorrect use of medication of unknown origin and dubious quality compromises animal health and welfare, increases the risk of harmful residues in the food chain and raises the spectre of unnecessary antibiotic resistance.”
The medicines included non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anabolic steroids, antibiotics, sedatives, and pain control treatments for a variety of species including horses, cows, sheep, pigs and household pets.
To be imported and sold for use in the UK all veterinary medicines must be authorised to ensure they are safe and effective, and many must be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon. Even where medicines are authorised they must be distributed and sold through licensed outlets where trained staff are available to provide the necessary advice on safe use...
