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The legislation on medical treatment of animals undergoes changed on 28 January 2022 when the application of the EU Regulation on Veterinary Medicinal Products 2019/6, the Regulation on medicated feed 2019/4; and their implementing acts began. The amendment (16/2022) on the Finnish act on medical treatment of animals (387/2014) entered into force 28.1.2022. The national regulations issued based on this national act will be amended accordingly later this year.
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A medicine is a substance or preparation used to alleviate, cure or prevent human or animal diseases and their signs.
Medicines and other substances used to treat animals must be used in such a way that the animal health and welfare are promoted. The medicine and other substance used must be administered to the animal so that minimal harm is caused to the animal. In addition, the medicines and other substances used to treat food-producing animals must be administered in such a way that the safety or quality of the food from the animal is not unnecessarily reduced. Additionally, the administration of a medicine or other substance may not cause significant harm to humans or the environment.
Medicines are used on animals in treatment and prevention of many different diseases. For example, antimicrobials (antibiotics) are used to treat bacterial infections, and analgesics in reducing pain. Medicines used for disease prevention include for example vaccines or vitamins.
Use of medicines on animals may be restricted or banned through legislation, if necessary, if use of medicine may endanger the safety or quality of foods, the drug causes other significant harm to animals, humans or the environment, or the medicine is used to promote the animals' growth or production.