Canada: Responsible use of Medically Important Antimicrobials in animals

As of December 1, 2018, all Medically Important Antimicrobials (MIAs) for veterinary use will be sold by prescription only. The responsible use of MIAs is intended to preserve their effectiveness and minimize the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

What is changing

All MIAs currently sold over the counter will become prescription status, and will be sold and distributed like other veterinary prescription drugs in Canada. The existing way that prescription (Pr) drugs are sold in Canada is not changing.

There will also be changes to the labels of MIAs, for example:

• removing growth promotion claims and related directions for use
• including responsible use statements on labels of all in-feed and in-water MIAs
• including a Pr on the principal display panel to show that it is a prescription drug