Equine

BEVA urges VMD to overturn suspension of flunixin

vetreportJuly 27, 2018

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) yesterday suspended the sale of all injectable formulations of the vital painkiller flunixin, without warning or consultation with the veterinary profession. Flunixin is the most commonly used analgesic in horses with colic, undergoing surgery and for other conditions. The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is calling for the suspension to be overturned in horses not destined for the human food chain, to reduce the potential impact on equine welfare.

Flunixin is used throughout the equine veterinary profession because of its highly potent analgesic effects. It is the only medicine licensed for the treatment of sepsis (endotoxaemia). The VMD’s decision reflects European Medicines Agency guidance relating to the human safety of the solvent used in the injectable formulation, not the active ingredient. To date, no recall notices have been issued and therefore veterinary surgeons may continue to prescribe medicines held in stock, although disruption to the supply chain will result in shortages of this medicine in clinical practice.

Jonathan Pycock, BEVA president said: “BEVA is fully supportive of all attempts to promote food safety, however flunixin is widely viewed as the gold-standard pain killer in horses and is commonly used in horses undergoing both elective and emergency surgery, for the crippling pain associated with laminitis and for severe forms of colic.

“BEVA is calling on the VMD to immediately enable limited batch release of flunixin for use in horses not destined for the human food chain in the interests of animal welfare. The equine veterinary profession has always been open to consultation with the VMD on a range of important matters relating to responsible medicine use, antibiotic resistance, horse identification, passports and the horse meat issue. BEVA is perplexed as to why the VMD failed to consult with the equine veterinary industry on the animal welfare impact of withdrawing such an important drug.”

UPDATE – 7th August 2018

BEVA has welcomed the news that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has relaxed its recently imposed restrictions on the sale of the essential equine pain killer, flunixin by allowing the release of stock from manufacturers.  This action will, in the short term, restore access to this medicine for use in non-food producing horses.

Jon Pycock, BEVA President noted: “It remains a concern to BEVA that this mechanism was not put in place before the suspension of flunixin was imposed. Contrary to assertions by the VMD, wholesalers were unable to meet the demands of the veterinary profession and clinical use of this medicine was disrupted within 24 hours of the VMD’s initial announcement. We are surprised by the Regulator’s lack of awareness of availability in the supply chain and question why there was no consultation with the veterinary sector before the suspension was enacted.  The VMD has been aware of this issue since March 2018 and it appears that no contingency was put in place to consider the animal welfare impact of this decision until it was too late.”

BEVA Junior Vice President and Specialist in Equine Surgery Tim Mair continued:  “Flunixin is a unique medicine in managing pain and sepsis in horses with colic. The VMD appeared to believe that this medicine could be substituted for other veterinary medicines and this is simply not the case. The release of stock from manufacturers is a short-term solution and, looking forward, we would like assurances that the VMD will fast track applications for the modification of product licenses to ensure that equine vets have continued access to these products.”

Professor Kate White, Senior Vice President of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists added: “Provision of pain relief is essential to maintain animal welfare. The loss of these products would hinder the work of vets working with horses and donkeys and in zoos where they are first line drugs for the management of pain. Use of flunixin in these animals can be undertaken safely with no impact on human health.”

Stock of flunixin held by manufacturers will be distributed alongside a ‘caution in use’ letter that will explain the restricted use of this product.  BEVA is reminding all equine vets that the horse’s food chain status must be checked when using this product – either using the paper passport or the recently launched chip checker on the central equine database website.