Antimicrobials have been a vital component of disease treatment and prevention in animal medicine since the early 1950's. Both the human and animal medical communities have been challenged by bacteria’s ability to select for resistance since the discovery of the first antimicrobial drug. The Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) is committed to working with Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and veterinarians to ensure that safe and appropriate products are available to maintain animal health and welfare and most importantly food safety.

We’re Doing Our Part

CAHI members are dedicated to providing veterinarians, producers and pet owners with safe and effective antimicrobials. Prior to being approved for sale, all antimicrobials are subjected to a stringent risk assessment process, which is overseen by Health Canada scientists. This involves a thorough review of the product for its impact on animal and human health, food safety, and potential implications on the environment.

We work with:

Producers / Pet Owners:

• CAHI members work with veterinarians and producers to ensure products are used prudently. This commitment is recognized through on-farm food safety programs.
• CAHI members are dedicated to research, and developing innovative products that are targeted and safe to administer.

Veterinarians & Animal Health Technicians:

• CAHI supports the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s Guidelines on the Prudent Use of Antimicrobials in Animals.
• Our technical experts assist veterinarians in ensuring that the most appropriate antimicrobial is administered and steps are taken to preserve its effectiveness.
• We work with veterinary technicians to enhance their understanding of the implications of antimicrobial resistance so that they can share this knowledge with pet owners.

Governments:

• CAHI contributes to the better understanding of the potential link between animal antimicrobials and resistance through contributions of antimicrobial use data to the Canadian Integrated Program on Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS).
• CAHI advocates the use of Canadian licensed drugs and restrictions to the importation of drugs for personal use and the practice of compounding be limited to meeting the specific health needs of the animal(s) for which there is no approved product.
• CAHI advocates for a regulatory system for all animal health products which bases decisions on science.

We believe that the human and animal medical communities should collaborate to build a better understanding of the science of antimicrobial resistance and develop strategies to manage antimicrobial resistance.

October 2005