The Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) Role and Activities John FitzGerald RUMA Secretary General AHDA, Birmingham 28 January 2014
Today Why RUMA? Who is RUMA? What does RUMA do Current activity What is Responsible Use? SQP s role
Why RUMA? 1990s emerging problems with AMR in human medicine in the UK superbugs like MRSA Antimicrobial use in agriculture blamed Any evidence? Group of interested parties formed the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) in 1998 RUMA s aim to promote a co-ordinated and integrated approach to best practice in the use of medicines
Who is RUMA? RUMA is a private company limited by guarantee RUMA is a unique initiative involving 23 organisations representing every stage of the "farm to fork" process Representatives of farmers, vets, pharmaceutical industry, medicine distributors, feed manufacturers, quality assurance schemes, food retailers, trainers Independent members with specific expertise including human medicine Observers from Government VMD (Defra) and FSA Officers Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary General Full membership list is:
Who is RUMA? (2) Agricultural Industries Confederation Animal Health Distributors Association Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority BPEX and EBLEX British Egg Industry Council British Poultry Council British Retail Consortium British Veterinary Association City and Guilds Land Based Services DairyCo Dairy UK Game Farmers Association LEAF National Beef Association National Farmers' Union National Office of Animal Health National Pig Association National Sheep Association NFU Scotland Red Tractor Assurance Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers RSPCA Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Who is RUMA (3) Independent members Dr Ian Brown, medic from Oxford University specialist in occupational health, toxicology, agriculture and food safety David Burch, pig vet and AMR expert Peter Rudman ex NFU and founder member Observers VMD (Defra), medicines regulatory issues FSA, food safety and animal feed issues
What does RUMA do? (1) Promote responsible use through RUMA Guidelines, commenting on current issues, advocating RUMA principles in member s activities, presentations by members and officers, press releases, sit on stakeholder groups e.g. SCOPS, Dairy UK AMR Group Guidelines Stress good management and health planning to minimise the need for medicine use by reducing the risk of disease challenge and then give advice on responsible use Species specific, shorter versions for farmers, longer for vets Cover antimicrobials, antiparasitics and vaccines in poultry, pigs, cattle sheep and fish Free to download from website www.ruma.org
What does RUMA do? (2) Website ruma.org.uk Comments MEPs call to ban prophylactic use of antimicrobials EPRUMA poster on responsible use New strain of MRSA Paper to the Commission on AMR and responsible use Evidence to the Science and Technology Select Committee AMR Inquiry Press Releases Supporting EC AMR Action Plan, EU Antibiotic Awareness Day, CMO s antibiotic warning Commenting on lobby group reports from Soil Association/Save Our Antibiotics Alliance Challenging claims of staggering impact on human health from antibiotic use on farm Launching RUMA s Preventive Use Statement, new Pig Guidelines
Current Activity 2014 Business Plan Main focus on possible changes to EC legislation Preparing antibiotic resistance briefing note Reviewing Dry Cow Therapy as responsible use Considering training for farmers Updating Guidelines up to date and more user friendly Beginning work on a new RUMA website Supporting members activities e.g. medicines courses for vets, speaking at conferences Supporting EPRUMA
What is Responsible Use (1) Using medicines as little as possible and as much as necessary Prevention of disease to reduce the need to use a medicine Right medicine at right time, as often as necessary according to the label RUMA Guidelines ruma.org.uk
What is Responsible Use (2) Little as possible Reduce risk of disease challenge Farm management, good ventilation, access to fresh water, nutrition, hygiene Biosecurity Farm health planning Vaccination programmes Medicines must not be used as a substitute for good farm management
What is Responsible Use (3) As much as necessary Purchased from authorised supplier Follow label and vet instructions Correct dose Full course Withdrawal Period
SQP s Role Promote responsible use for all medicines with customers Work to responsible use principles Encourage customers to read and work to RUMA Guidelines (and SCOPS and COWS) Consider alternatives/additions: biosecurity, fencing, nutrition, foot health, egg counts
SQP s Role re. medicines Prescribe right medicine (understand situation, think resistance) Get medicine used at right time on right animals Make sure dosage will be right Make sure administration technique will be right Encourage prevention including vaccination
Questions Contact details: John FitzGerald RUMA Secretary General rumasec@btinternet.com 01747 860867 ruma.org.uk