BEVA asks VMD to reverse flunixin decision

The analgesic flunixin was on a list of nine products containing the excipient diethanolamine. As a result, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate made the decision to suspend it for food-producing animals. The British Equine Veterinary Association however have asked VMD to reverse that decision, and VMD has responded to that request by releasing the following statement:

“The VMD has suspended products for food-producing animals (specifically cattle, pigs and horses) that contain the excipient DEA. We have not suspended any products containing DEA used for companion animals only. The VMD has done this in the light of the opinion of the scientific advisory committee to the European Medicines Agency that there may be a risk to humans from consuming food from animals treated with products containing DEA. The suspension means no product containing DEA may be released or placed on the market by the marketing authorisation holder. No products are being recalled. The VMD judges the consumer safety risk to be very low and we are not aware of any problems in animals associated with the use of products containing DEA. Vets may, therefore, continue to prescribe products containing DEA while stock is available, as they have been doing in line with their clinical judgement. Vets may also continue to source stock from wholesalers; therefore, there should not be any immediate availability concerns. Eight of the nine suspended products are solutions for injection for cattle and horses or cattle, horses and pigs containing flunixin meglumine – an NSAID. The other suspended product is a suspension for injection for cattle, horses and pigs containing the antimicrobials trimethoprim and sulfadiazine. There are other veterinary medicines authorised for use in cattle, pigs and horses that either contain the same active substance(s) in a different pharmaceutical form, or alternative products that have similar indications. Treatment decisions are the responsibility of the individual prescribing vet. The VMD is aware of vets’ concerns over the potential future lack of availability of flunixin for IV use in non-food-producing horses. The VMD is investigating potential ways to maintain the availability of injectable flunixin for use in such horses.”