Veterinary chemical users

Page last updated: Tuesday, 17 January 2023 - 1:43pm

Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review.

Western Australia has laws to control chemical use on trade animals. These laws protect people, animals and the environment from harm. Misuse of chemicals may result in harmful residues in animal products.

When using chemicals on animals, follow all label or veterinary directions, use only registered veterinary chemicals, declare withholding periods on the national vendor declaration form and keep records of all veterinary treatments given to animals. By following these requirements, you help to maintain Australia’s well-earned reputation for safe, reliable animal products.

What are veterinary chemicals?

Veterinary chemicals are substances used to prevent, diagnose, treat, modify and alleviate disease or injury. Veterinary chemicals include prescription medicines (e.g. antibiotics) and over-the-counter products (e.g. drenches and vaccines).

The most common veterinary chemicals used on livestock include:

  • drenches for intestinal worms
  • lice, blowfly and tick treatments
  • vaccines to protect against infections such as pulpy kidney, tetanus and scabby mouth
  • antibiotics for bacterial infections
  • anti-inflammatory medicines for pain relief.

What chemicals can I use on livestock, bees, fish and crustaceans?

You are only allowed to use registered veterinary chemicals on livestock, bees, fish and crustaceans. When used according to label directions, registered veterinary chemicals are safe for livestock, bees, fish, crustaceans, people and the environment.

Veterinary chemicals are registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). The APVMA makes assessments on safety for people, animals, the environment and risk to trade before registering a veterinary chemical. During this process, the APVMA also assesses residue risk and establishes withholding periods.

Unregistered veterinary chemicals (e.g. plant chemicals, home remedies) cannot provide the same level of confidence around safety and residue risk. Their use may put animals, people or the environment at risk and result in residue contamination.

Why is veterinary chemical use controlled?

The community demands meat, fish, crustaceans, eggs, honey, milk and fibre be free of harmful chemical residues. Harmful chemical residues are a food safety risk and will impact on trade.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern for human health. Similar antibiotics are used to treat livestock and people. Great care must be taken to minimise resistance so these antibiotics remain effective in the fight against infections.

Are there laws that control how chemicals can be used on livestock, bees, fish and crustaceans?

Yes.

People involved in the care of livestock, bees, fish and crustaceans can only use veterinary chemicals under strict legislative controls. These controls apply to all veterinary chemicals used on trade species animals. All states and territories have legislation controlling the use of chemicals on trade species animals to safeguard people, animals and the environment.

In Western Australia, the legislation is called the Veterinary Chemical Control Regulations 2006.

What animals do the laws apply to?

The Veterinary Chemical Control Regulations classifies animals into two groups. The classifications allow the regulations to define the type of chemical use permitted for each group:

  • major trade species – cattle, sheep, pigs, meat and layer poultry (including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese) and bees
  • trade species
    • ostrich, emu, deer, goat and aquaculture species and includes the major trade species (cattle, sheep, pigs, meat and layer poultry, bees); or
    • an animal kept or used to produce hide, hair or fleece; or
    • any other animal that produces food for human or animal consumption or is used as food for human or animal consumption.

Are cats and dogs included under these laws?

No.

Companion animals such as dogs and cats are exempted from these laws.

What are the rules for veterinary chemical use?

You must abide by the following rules for veterinary chemical use:

  • Follow all label directions. You must not vary label directions unless directed by a veterinarian.
  • Follow all veterinary directions. Veterinary directions override label directions.
  • Do not use unregistered chemicals on livestock unless directed by a veterinarian.
  • You can use a veterinary chemical registered for major trade species (cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and bees) in a trade species if:
    • this use is not contrary to a label restraint or label precaution on the label; and
    • instructions for use on a major trade species animal (cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens and bees) are mentioned on the label; and
    • the person uses the product on a trade species animal which is not a major trade species animal, and
    •  the use is not by injection unless the label gives instructions for use by injection.

Failure to observe these rules may result in financial penalty.

Do vets have to follow the same rules?

The rules are different if you are a veterinarian. See veterinary surgeon chemical use for details.

Do I have to keep records of chemical use?

Yes.

Good record keeping is essential to ensure the animals you sell do not contain harmful chemical residues.

You are required by law to record the following information:

  • individual animal or group identification
  • name of the product
  • date of administration
  • dose administered
  • treatment period
  • withholding period (WHP).

Chemical records must be kept for three years, including any written advice from veterinarians. You may be asked to produce these records. Failure to keep records and produce them on request may result in a financial penalty.

Chemical records are required to support any chemical use declarations in a national vendor declaration (NVD) form or PigPass NVD when selling livestock.