Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. June 2025
    2. 2025 Innovation supplement
    3. May 2025
    4. April 2025
    5. March 2025
    6. 2025 Buildings supplement
    7. February 2025
    8. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    9. January 2025
    10. December 2024
    11. November 2024
    12. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    13. October 2024
    14. September 2024
    15. August 2024
    16. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    17. July 2024
    18. June 2024
    19. 2024 Innovation supplement
    20. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    21. May 2024
    22. April 2024
    23. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    24. March 2024
    25. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    26. February 2024
    27. January 2024
    28. December 2023
    29. November 2023
    30. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    31. October 2023
    32. September 2023
    33. Health Supplement
    Featured

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025
    Recent

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025

    2025 Innovation supplement now available

    June 4, 2025

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Animal Health

VMD confirms maximum five year phase out period for zinc oxide

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverJuly 6, 20173 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has confirmed the UK pig industry will be granted the maximum five year period to withdraw zinc oxide from piglet diets.

The VMD has promised to support the industry in the transition and is urging ‘responsible use’ of zinc oxide during the phase-out period. It is planning to publish sales data to highlight progress.

On June 26, the European Commission adopted a decision to withdraw the marketing authorisations (MAs) for veterinary medicines containing zinc oxide administered orally to food producing species. Member states were given up to five years, from the date of adoption, to withdraw existing national MAs for these products.

There are three veterinary medicines authorised for oral administration to food producing animals in the UK that contain zinc oxide as their active substance. They are authorised for use in piglets for the prevention, or treatment and control, of diarrhoea.

The VMD, which will invite representatives of the pig industry to meet with it in the coming weeks to discuss implementation of the decision, said: “The VMD will give the maximum period of five years prior to expiry of these MAs to support the adoption of, and transition to, alternative management strategies.

“We strongly encourage the responsible use of these medicines during this time. The VMD will propose the publication of annual sales data for these medicines to monitor progression in reducing their use.

“The VMD recognises the challenge that the withdrawal presents and is committed to finding ways to assist with the transition.”

The VMD gave no indication, however, that it would reconsider the use of zinc oxide in the UK once we are out of the EU, despite suggestions from, among others, the National Pig Association and pig medicine specialist David Burch that Brexit presented an opportunity to do so.

Background

In February 2016, France and the Netherlands submitted an Article 35 referral to the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP).

The CVMP conducted a scientific review of the data provided by the MA holders and concluded in March 2016 that the risks to the environment, associated with use of these medicines, was not outweighed by the demonstrated clinical benefit to pigs. A hazard associated with antimicrobial resistance was identified but the risk could not be quantified. The CVMP recommended that the European Commission (EC) withdraw these products from the market.

Member states were invited to submit evidence to the EC to demonstrate the length of transition period required for withdrawal of the products, if the CVMP recommendation was adopted. The VMD, in consultation with the pig industry, submitted evidence to request a 10 year transition period.

In June, the committee adopted a draft Commission decision including a five year maximum period prior to the withdrawal of the products from the market.

Vaccine and antibiotic alternatives

The VMD said there were a limited number of vaccines authorised within the EU for the prevention of diarrhoea in piglets. These are indicated for specific pathogens.

There are also a number of antibiotics that are authorised either for treatment, or for prevention and treatment, of specific causes of diarrhoea in piglets. See the Product Information Database.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleNPA to outline post-Brexit vision for pig sector at Gove roundtable
Next Article 27 workers killed on farms last year, new health & safety figures show
Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

Read Similar Stories

Pig industry veteran Hugh Crabtree awarded MBE

June 16, 2025

AHDB seeking pork sector director, as Angela Christison announces departure

June 16, 2025

Farming and rural bodies give ‘cautious welcome’ to better-than-expected Defra funding settlement

June 11, 2025
Latest News

Pig industry veteran Hugh Crabtree awarded MBE

June 16, 2025

AHDB seeking pork sector director, as Angela Christison announces departure

June 16, 2025

Pigs Tomorrow: The sustainability challenges and trade-offs

June 13, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson Ref 1753

    • Oxfordshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Farrowing Manager

    • Suffolk
    • Blythburgh Pigs
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1752 Somerset

    • Somerset
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.