For a very long time the introduction of veterinary pharmaceutical specialities has not posed great problems for the manufacturers at least not in the European market. Nevertheless many amongst them have devoted themselves to detailed preliminary studies notably in the pharmacological, toxicological and chemical fields. However, the scope of these preliminary studies was often adjusted to the speciality and to the development costs in relation to the size of the market, that was envisaged. Studies along the lines imposed by the F.D.A. were carried out only if and when a product showed a sufficiently promising future to allow for hope of success on the U.S. market. Since four years the situation has changed and for a number of reasons.
Our objective in the pig growth promoter survey was not only to measure existing product usage but also to examine attitudes to the growth promoter/feed additive category in general, and then to establish as clearly as possible farmers' awareness of and attitudes to the specific products on the market. In particular we felt it important to focus on the reasons why particular farmers who had changed the product they used had done so. It is the people who change who often give one the best clues to the dynamics of a particular market situation, and it is often sensible for research to focus its attentions particularly on this group.
A simple questionnaire form was first drawn up and studied within the Companies for which the members of the Working Group worked in order to identify any major problems at this initial stage. None emerged. Work on drafting the audit then proceeded so swiftly that an outline scheme was drawn up within six months. We were then left with the rather hard task, during the ensuing 18 months, of devising a scheme for collating data confidentially and for seeking approval for the proposals at various levels within the A.B.P.I.
It is very obvious that there is no Animal Health Care industry awareness in the European Committee in Brussels. With future legislation in mind, there will be a strong pressure on the industry to go only for the bigger markets and to withdraw minor products. The group was disappointed with the lecture on future trends in Animal Husbandry and Legislation. For research directives and long term policies and decisions, one needs to know future trends in Animal Husbandry and the future politics of the European Committee.
The European Commission has not yet produced any draft Directive relating to Distribution of Veterinary Medicines. The author intend to divide his paper into 3 sections: A. Definition and scope of market for veterinary medicines in Western Europe; B. Features of distribution systems in operation in EEC countries; C. Suggested criteria for an EEC policy on distribution of veterinary medicines.