It's likely news to most Canadians that the wide-spread use of antibiotics in livestock includes unapproved drugs, but it's been on Health Canada's radar for at least seven years. And as the keeper of public health, the federal department needs to crack down on farmers who allow such drugs to enter the food chain.
This week's issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal highlights the controversial usage.
The article claims it's the result of a loophole in federal law that allows meat producers to import about $100-million worth of medications to Canada each year.
It is done with little oversight, under the "own-use" provision, meant for individuals to import up to a 90-day supply of drugs for personal consumption.
Unfortunately, it has come to be widely interpreted by farmers as a way to import drugs for their animals.
The loophole was first identified in 2002 by an advisory committee which recommended Health Canada then stop the imports immediately.
The drugs include unapproved and untested antibiotics, often given to healthy animals to speed their growth or prevent disease outbreaks. Farmers say they need to do this to remain competitive, even though the use of these antibiotics as growth promoters was banned in Europe three years ago because of health concerns.
Medical experts here also fear increases in antibiotic resistant bacterial infections in humans, and the subsequent development of superbacteria.
When exposed to low doses of drugs over a period of time, animals develop a bacteria that's antibiotic resistant.
That creates a potential breeding ground for a superbacteria. Humans are at risk for picking up the drug-resistant bacteria, either by consuming undercooked meat, or by having contact with farm wastes, manure or other environmental contact.
As complicated as the issue is, it can be pared down to one thing: the rules are there for a reason and should be followed. Health Canada should act on the concerns of the medical community and close this loophole immediately. All drugs imported for use in food production should first meet registration and licence requirements.
The CMAJ article is in response to a task force report, quietly posted to Health Canada's website in December. The recommendations by the committee, dominated by representatives of the livestock industry, called for Health Canada to keep the loophole in place for another two years for further study of the product.
Study is appropriate, of course, but this looks like an industry bid to buy time.
First, deal with the use of unapproved drugs.
Second, test them.
Finally, if the drugs check out, they should by all means be reinstated.
The process is sound: it should be allowed to work.
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