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Zinc oxide to be phased out by 2022
Zinc oxide is widely used in the EU to prevent and control post-weaning diarrhoea and bowel oedema disease in young pigs.

Committee votes in EU-wide ban

EU member states will have up to five years to phase out the use of zinc oxide at medicinal levels in piglet feed before a ban comes into effect.

The Standing Committee on Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) voted in favour of the ban in Brussels on Monday (19 June).

It will now be up to the UK government to decide whether to allow the maximum transition period in this country, unless Brexit heralds a different approach.

The decision has received mixed views among the pig sector. The transition period falls short of the 10 years campaigned for by the National Pig Association (NPA) and other industry bodies, but avoids immediate withdrawal of the marketing authorisations.

NPA chief executive Zoe Davies said: “We knew this was coming but that doesn’t make the outcome and the process behind it any more palatable. We had hoped for longer as we believe the industry will need at least 10 years to adapt to life without this vital health tool.

“But it could have been a lot worse if the industry alliance we were part of had not made such a powerful argument for more time.”

The NPA is lobbying for the maximum five-year transition period and is hopeful of government backing. But the association will also explore whether Brexit will affect the way the UK handles its decision.

Ms Davies added: “We must now use the transition period, if zinc does go in the UK, to ensure, first and foremost, that the health and welfare of pigs are not compromised by the decision. We are concerned about the timing – losing zinc could put a major spanner in the works as the industry collectively seeks to reduce antibiotic usage on farms.

“It is encouraging that some farms are already starting to experiment with removing or reducing zinc levels from piglet diets but already we are seeing this can have unintended consequences."

Zinc oxide is widely used in the EU to prevent and control post-weaning diarrhoea and bowel oedema disease in young pigs. It is estimated that around 70-90 per cent of starter diets in the UK contain therapeutic levels of the compound.

Late last year the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Veterinary Committee concluded that zinc oxide in piglet feed should be withdrawn as the benefits are outweighed by the risk to the environment and co-selection of antimicrobial resistance.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.