Danish veterinarians demonstrated on Tuesday in Copenhagen against the implementation of the new European regulations on veterinary medicines. They say that strict compliance could lead to an increase in drug use in Northern Europe.
The new EU regulation, which came into effect in Denmark on January 28, requires veterinarians to follow the exact description on the package leaflet. According to them, the EU law was made to reduce antibiotic use in Southern Europe. But in Northern Europe, where antibiotic consumption is already low, the new rules will lead to higher antibiotic use.
Veterinarian Karina Hou Larsen, one of the initiators of the demonstration, submitted a petition at the parliament building. She says politicians came to the square to receive the signatures. According to the veterinarians, it had long been known that the new EU legislation was coming, but only now has the Danish Veterinary Service established a regulation.
“This EU regulation was adopted in 2018, but the Danish interpretation by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration was only finally ready last week. And clearly, the EU did not listen enough to the objections we raised from Denmark.” “We want an exemption. Otherwise, as veterinarians, we have to constantly walk on eggshells,” says Karina Hou Larsen.
She says that the new rules may force veterinarians to prescribe the medicine one way but simultaneously advise clients to administer it differently in practice.