Notice to stakeholders: Update on the post-market re-evaluation of medically important antimicrobials for veterinary use with unspecified or prolonged durations of use

Antimicrobials are crucial for animal and public health, but their use can lead to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global public health threat. Health Canada’s Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD) has taken steps to improve oversight and responsible use of antimicrobials in animals. In 2020, the VDD published a re-evaluation framework to determine if specific conditions of use of veterinary antimicrobials may contribute to AMR. This framework led to the re-evaluation of labels for medically important antimicrobials for use in animals with unspecified or prolonged durations of use. A preliminary analysis of in-scope products revealed that many were premixes or soluble powders for oral administration in food-producing animals, with high or medium importance to human medicine. Notification letters were sent to companies in 2022, identifying veterinary antimicrobial products with unspecified or prolonged durations. The VDD is committed to maintaining high standards for new drugs, ensuring appropriate labelling, and maintaining access to safe and efficacious antimicrobials.