Health Canada does not currently have a formal system in place to track non-approved veterinary drugs that are being used in animals in Canada. Anecdotal data are available which indicates some extra-label use of drugs, drugs used for purposes other than approved usage, as well as importation of non-approved veterinary drugs for use on animals.
As part of its strengthening exercise, the veterinary drugs directorate of Health Canada will be conducting a survey this summer and fall on the extra label use of veterinary drugs in Canada. This is a major step in addressing this issue.
Efforts are also underway to step up investigation and interception of cases where unapproved products are being imported or sold in Canada. Results of monitoring by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, CFIA, for violative residues of veterinary drugs in food have shown consistently high compliance.
Discussions are well underway between Health Canada and the CFIA to develop a memorandum of understanding. This agreement will be in place by the fall of 2002 and implemented by April 2003.
Health Canada does not currently have a tracking system in place to monitor how active pharmaceutical ingredients, APIs, are being used in animals in Canada. Again, only anecdotal information is available at this time.
Health Canada's health products and food branch inspectorate is presently enforcing a policy which restricts the extent and the purposes for which APIs can be imported into Canada.
(d) We do not have specific information from Canada Customs and Revenue Agency on the importation of these products. The current policy on personal importation applies to drugs for human use only and not for drugs intended for veterinary use.
There is anecdotal information that veterinary drug products are being imported under this policy which are not for personal use but which are being sold or used by veterinarians to treat food producing animals. For this reason, Health Canada’s veterinary drugs directorate is developing a policy to address the importation of veterinary drug products. Prescription veterinary drugs can only be imported into Canada by animal owners.
Again, foods are regularly and systematically analyzed by the CFIA for veterinary drug residues to ensure compliance with Canadian regulations.