Government annual report confirms responsible use of medicines by salmon farming industry

New independent Government testing by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has revealed that the Scottish salmon farming industry continues to use veterinary medicines responsibly. 

The results are published today, Thursday 7th September 2006, in the ‘Annual Report on Surveillance for Veterinary Residues in Food in the UK 2005’ from the Veterinary Residues Committee (VRC), which show that Scottish salmon farmers are using veterinary medicines in accordance with authorisation.

Welcoming the Annual Report findings, Sid Patten, Chief Executive of Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) said:  “This is good news as independent Government testing by the VMD confirms that the Scottish salmon farming industry continues to use approved veterinary medicines responsibly.

“Contrary to what some commentators have previously suggested, veterinary medicine usage in Scottish salmon farms is minimal and qualified vets only use medicines to treat infected fish when absolutely necessary,” he added.

Highlighting the role of good husbandry in keeping the use of veterinary medicines to a minimum, Sid Patten commented:  “Good practice such as keeping fish of the same generation on a farm at any given time, leaving the pens empty after the salmon have been harvested and site rotation also help to ensure protection against infection,” he concluded.  

The VRC provides independent scrutiny of the residue surveillance programmes (conducted by the VMD) and interprets the significance of the results for consumer safety, advising Government Ministers, the VMD and the Food Standards Agency, who in turn provide consumer advice. 

The Annual Report summarises the results of surveillance for veterinary medicines residues in many foods produced in the UK, and imported products, which were collected throughout 2005.  It can be viewed on the VRC's website www.vet-residues-committee.gov.uk/.

Notes to Editors:

• Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation aims to represent salmon farming in regulatory and political matters. For the first time, industry members from mainland Scotland, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland have joined together to ensure that the industry’s contribution to Scotland’s social, economic and commercial landscape is promoted, recognised and rewarded by its stakeholders.

• The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) authorises and controls veterinary medicines in the UK; it is an executive agency of Defra. The Veterinary Residues Committee was set up in January 2001 to provide independent advice to Ministers and the Chief Executives of the VMD and Food Standards Agency on the incidence and concentrations of residues of veterinary medicines in food samples collected under the VMD’s surveillance programmes.  All surveillance results are published in the VMD's quarterly "Medicines Act Veterinary Information Service", available on the VMD’s website. 

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7 September 2006

For further information contact either:
Ken Hughes, Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, 01738 587006 / 07974 173739
Julie Edgar, Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, 01738 587010 / 0789 987 5151

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