All groups of sheep anthelmintics (wormers) are now available to be purchased at agricultural merchants that have a member of staff trained and accredited as a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP). An application to change the legal distribution category for Startect Dual Active Oral Solution has been accepted by the UK’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

The legal distribution category of the group-five (purple) drench was changed to POM-VPS, meaning vets, pharmacists and SQPs are now able to sell it.

The derquantel-based drench was previously classified as POM-V and was only available from a vet under prescription.

The group-four (orange) anthelmintic Zolvix was also reclassified from POM-V to POM-VPS earlier this year.

Both drenches are the only products available in their respective anthelmintic groups.

Zolvix is used for the control of roundworms and Startect is for the control of roundworms and lungworms.

The two products were previously only available under veterinary prescription, as they have no known issues with anthelmintic resistance, whereas anthelmintics in groups one (white), two (yellow) and three (clear) can have some resistance issues.

Concerns

The British Veterinary Association has raised concerns that the latest licencing reclassification could lead to issues of resistance in more anthelmintic groups.

Meanwhile, a new compulsory training module has been added to the course needed for merchants to become accredited as a SQP.

The general advice from vets is to use group-four or -five anthelmintics sparingly, as a novel or knockout drench, to kill worms that have been resistant to previous treatments.

The products can also be used as a quarantine drench to stop the introduction of resistant worms through newly purchased livestock.