Livestock producers considering cross-border shopping to take advantage of lower-priced veterinary products need to follow specific rules.
Prescription and non-prescription drugs come under different sets of rules, said Jean Szkotnicki, president of the Canadian Animal Health Institute, which represents companies that make and distribute drugs.
“The rules are not as clear as many people might like,” she said.
As well, the rules are applied differently to producers and veterinarians.
Producers wishing to buy non-prescription products such as the antibiotic Micotil or the insecticide Ivomec may import enough for their own use in their own herd within the current production cycle. Resale or stockpiling is not allowed.
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They must declare the products at the border. Most major crossings between Canada and the United States should have officials available to clear the items, Szkotnicki said.
Veterinarian Calvin Booker of Feedlot Health Strategies in Okotoks, Alta., said vets are also restricted in the products they may sell to clients.
“We can’t purchase the product in the U.S. and bring it across the border because it doesn’t have the proper labelling requirements,” he said.
However, a vet who owns animals can import prescription items for personal use on his livestock.
Import of generic products in the U.S. may not be as cheap as originally thought after calculating the exchange rate and freight costs.
Booker said harmonization has been an issue for some time because Health Canada rejects some products, fearing antimicrobial resistance in humans as well as the potential for harmful drug residues left in food animals.
Harmonizing veterinary drug use and importation is being discussed by such groups as Health Canada, the Canadian Animal Health Institute, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and pharmacists.
“While they have to be harmonized, arguably it is going to be very difficult to bring the U.S. system into line with ours just because they are so big,” Booker said.
“Without some sound scientific logic, they are going to be reluctant to change.”
Under Canadian Food and Drug Regulations, Health Canada must approve all veterinary drugs.
The department reviews toxicity data submitted by manufacturers and assesses the risks and benefits of the resulting drug. As well, scientists review residue disappearance and determine an acceptable withdrawal period.
They may approve a drug when they are satisfied that all conditions have been met.
