Guidance
Guidelines and guidance on the responsible use of veterinary medicines
Guidelines and guidance for vets, farmers and animal keepers on the responsible use of antimicrobials.
This list brings together links to guidance and guidelines on responsible use of antimicrobials in animals. It covers information produced by government and animal health organisations.
List of guidelines and guidance on the responsible use of antimicrobials in animals
Links correct as of 26 September 2024 – if you find a link no longer works, or you would like to add to this list please email: amr@vmd.gov.uk
British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy | Avoiding Milk Antibiotic Residues | August 2022 |
British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Horses | Protect Me Toolkit | Unknown |
| Parasitic Roundworms - (Moredun Research Institute) | 2022 |
British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| All | Cascade Prescribing in Veterinary Practice BSAVA | February 2024 |
| Small animals | Responsible Use Of Antibacterials - Position Statement BSAVA | January 2022 |
| Small animals | PROTECT ME Resources and supporting material (developed by SAMSoc and BSAVA) | March 2024 |
| Small animals | BSAVA Guide to the Use of Veterinary Medicines - Chapter 15, Antibacterials | April 2024 |
| Small animals | Antiparasitic resistance | April 2024 |
| Small animals | Perioperative antibiotics – an article | November 2018 |
British Veterinary Association (BVA)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| All | Responsible use of anthelmintics in grazing animals poster | 2019 |
| Responsible use of antimicrobials in veterinary practice 7-point plan | 2019 | |
| Are you antibiotic aware? A poster for practices | 2019 | |
| Companion Animals | Client Leaflet: Your role as a pet owner when using antibiotics | November 2013 |
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Livestock | Guidance document on Responsible Use of Antimicrobials in Livestock – Poster for livestock keepers. | November 2014 |
European Commission
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| All | Guidelines for the prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine | September 2015 |
European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals (EPRUMA)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Food producing | Best Practice guides for vaccines, anthelmintics in food-producing animals, antimicrobials and antibiotics | 2015 |
| All | European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals - Leaflet | 2019 |
Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Companion Animals | The FECAVA Hygiene Working Group published five posters with recommendations for responsible use of Antimicrobials | 2022 |
Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| All | Guidelines on responsible use of antibiotics | January 2019 |
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| All | Advice booklet: Safe use of veterinary medicines by animal handlers | August 2012 |
National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle | Leaflet outlining responsible use of antimicrobials in cattle - including advice on responsible Prescribing, treatment records, medicine storage & disposal | 2017 |
| Sheep | Guidelines on Sheep Medicines and Prescribing Practices | 2010 |
National Office of Animal Health (NOAH)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| All | Responsible Use of Antibiotics | May 2016 |
| All | Antibiotics for Animal Health and Welfare: An Overview | May 2016 |
| All | Responsible Use of Animal Medicines | May 2016 |
| All | Antibiotic Resistance | May 2016 |
Pig Veterinary Society (PVS)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Pigs | Document outlining prescribing principles for antimicrobials and recommending a 2-part approach to minimise risk of AMR transfer | January 2016 |
| Pigs | Best Practice Guide to Antibiotic Usage Review on Pig Farms | October 2015 |
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| All | Guidelines for veterinary medicines - including prescription and supply guidelines, choice of medicinal products, the prescribing cascade and AMR | September 2024 |
Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Poultry and game | Responsible use of Antimicrobials in Poultry and Game Production | July 2022 |
| Pigs | Responsible use of Antimicrobials in Pig Production | August 2022 |
| Cattle | Responsible Use of Antimicrobials in Cattle Production | August 2022 |
| Dairy | Responsible Use of Antimicrobials in Dry Cow Management | August 2022 |
| Sheep | Responsible use of Antimicrobials in Sheep Production | August 2022 |
| Fish | Responsible use of Antimicrobials in Fish Production | August 2022 |
Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Sheep | SCOPS Training Resources | June 2012 |
| SCOPS Internal Parasite Technical Manual | 2019/2020 | |
| SCOPS ‘Know Your Anthelmintics’ guide | January 2022 |
Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| All | Information and resources on the UK’s plans to see antimicrobial resistance contained and controlled by 2040 | May 2024 |
| All | Code of Practice on the responsible use of animal medicines on farms | December 2014 |
| All | Responsible antibiotic use under the prescribing cascade | August 2014 |
| All | LA-MRSA: information for people who work with livestock and in abattoirs | April 2016 |
| All | Handling of manure and slurry to reduce antibiotic resistance | August 2016 |
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| All | WOAH Antimicrobial resistance - Tools and Resources | October 2024 |
| The OIE Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance and the Prudent Use of Antimicrobials | November 2016 | |
| OIE Seventh Strategic Plan For The Period 2021–2025 | May 2021 |
World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
| Species | Summary of Guidance and Associated Web-link | Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs and cats | Key documents on responsible antimicrobial use and AMR prevention | 2021 |
Updates to this page
Published 22 July 2016Last updated 8 October 2024 + show all updates
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Updated links and review dates.
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Guidance links reviewed and updated July 2022
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Minor updates and additions
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First published.