Kia ora
Welcome to our update. In this edition, we have included some guidance about providing emergency care, and advice about human health practitioners undertaking non-surgical procedures on animals.
There is also an update from New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) regarding extending the milk withholding period for pour-on products containing abamectin, as well as a link to the 2021 Antibiotic Agricultural Compounds Sales report. With Mental Health Awareness Week just a few weeks away, we have included a link to some downloadable resources which we hope will be useful for you.
New guidance
VCNZ has recently published new pieces of guidance for new practices about providing emergency care, and human health practitioners undertaking non-surgical procedures on animals under the supervision of a veterinarian. These, and other pieces of guidance for a variety of FAQs, are available on The Hub.
- New practice advice regarding emergency care
Veterinarians and veterinary businesses, including new businesses, must provide emergency and after hours care for animals they have consulted on. This guidance has been written to ensure that animal health and welfare are protected; the public’s trust in the profession is upheld; that veterinarians have a social licence to operate; and future veterinary care is sustainable.Read here
- Health practitioners undertaking non-surgical procedures on animals
This guidance has been prepared for veterinarians about the acceptability, circumstances, and necessary conditions around a human health practitioner undertaking a non-surgical procedure on an animal under the supervision of a veterinarian. Read here
Withholding period for pour-on products containing abamectin
In 2022, New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) extended the milk withholding period for pour-on products containing abamectin from zero to 35 days.
NZFS needed to make this change to manage the export trade risk associated with abamectin milk residues. This means abamectin residues in milk must be below the maximum residue level (MRL) of 0.003 mg/kg. The change to 35 days is necessary because NZFS has data to show residues in milk remain above 0.003 mg/kg for at least seven days, but does not have enough data to set an alternative withholding period.
As farmers head into spring calving season, please remember to use the 35-day milk withholding period whenever you use abamectin pour-on products in your herds. If an abamectin pour-on has been used and is still within the 35-day withholding period at calving, contact NZFS for advice on how to manage residues in the herd so milk remains compliant with the MRL.
You can contact NZFS by emailing [email protected] or calling 04 894 2550.
Antibiotic agricultural compounds sales report
The 2021 Antibiotic Agricultural Compounds Sales report has been published on the MPI website. It contains some interesting data and we encourage you to have a read.
Here is a link to the report.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is happening between 18-24 September – a good time to reflect on what your practice does to encourage all staff to look after their mental wellbeing. There are lots of different resources and tools to help boost mental health on the MHAW website.
This year, the theme for MHAW is Five Ways, Five Days which focuses on trying a different wellbeing action each week day.
VCNZ also has a page on our website with resources to help veterinary businesses promote health and wellbeing in the workplace. If your practice is doing something fun to promote MHAW or you already have some great initiatives running, we’d love to hear about them!
Thank you
We hope you found this newsletter interesting and informative. If you’d like to provide feedback or send us a topic or story for next time, please email [email protected]
Please also contact us if you have any questions or need support.