Resumen de Pharmacovigilance: Reporting suspected adverse events to feed additives
THE Veterinary Medicine Directorate's (VMD's) pharmacovigilance unit monitors reports of suspected adverse events (reactions and lack of efficacy) following the use of veterinary medicines. Veterinary surgeons and animal owners are encouraged to report any suspected adverse events to either the company marketing the medicine (which is legally obliged to inform the VMD) or to the VMD directly, for example via its website (www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/adversereactionreporting/).
However, there is no legal framework for pharmacovigilance for Specified (or Zootechnical) Feed Additives such as coccidiostats. Nevertheless, the VMD is happy to accept reports of adverse events for these products and will forward them on to the company concerned. However, practitioners may choose to report directly to the company, which may be able to offer further advice and assistance. It is assumed that most practitioners do the latter as the VMD has only ever received a handful of reports for these products.
