Using Cipro? Buying Antibiotics Without Prescription is a Criminal Offence

The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association has launched a new guide outlining the law around the use of antibiotics when it comes to treating fish, corals, and other invertebrates.

The guidance note will help the industry understand its responsibilities around the use of these important drugs and ensure trade plays its part in combating anti-microbial resistance (AMR), a growing concern for both human and animal health.

The guide was researched and drawn up by Scientific Support Officer Emily Maunder as part of her work updating and creating new position statements for the trade association to help the industry stay up to date on legal requirements. 

It looks at the current regulations around antibiotics, in particular, that they can only be used if prescribed by a vet, whether that is for fish, corals, or other invertebrates.

Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee explained: “This new guidance document is part of our work started last year where we have reviewed all our industry and customer information and identified areas that needed new or updated material.

“Anti-microbial resistance (AMR) is a growing health concern so we felt it was a good time to release this guidance document so that businesses have a clear understanding of how they can use antibiotics within the aquatics industry.

“This is another example, along with our Biosecurity Guide and Risk Assessment tool, where OATA can help aquatic businesses play their part in acting responsibly. We all have a part in play to safeguard these important medications for both humans and animals into the future.”

The new guidance document also has a useful Q&A section.

Read OATA’s antibiotics guidance document here

Implications

For reefers, in simple terms, it means that neither stores nor hobbyists should buy antibiotics, without a prescription, for use on their reef tanks. It’s against the law. 

Don’t buy them online, from other countries, or from friends. It’s illegal. Only vets are allowed to prescribe antibiotics for animals, including fish and corals.

If you have concerns regarding the illegal possession, use, and/or supply of antibiotics in Great Britain you can contact the Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s enforcement team at enforcement@vmd.gov.uk. For Northern Ireland contact webmaster@health-ni.gov.uk.

Find out more about the laws that affect the aquarium trade at OATA, https://ornamentalfish.org/