[The Veterinary Drug Act and rational pharmacotherapy. Various marginal notes on the registration and channeling of veterinary drugs].

A short introductory note is followed by a more detailed discussion of a number of aspects of the administration of the Veterinary Medicinal Products Act. Among other things, attention is paid to the following subjects: the Registration of Veterinary Drugs Committee (RVDC) and its working parties (no participation of specialists from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, no varied membership of the Veterinary Drugs Committee), the veterinary use of drugs registered for human use (supplementary registration), the position of particular species of animals (supplementary registration), the records (no environmental requirements, absence of clear directions for the toxicological evaluation of veterinary-drug metabolites, risks of the number of veterinary drugs available being reduced) and the criteria of directing veterinary drugs into specific channels ('veterinarians only' system, role of pharmaceutical chemists). It would also appear to be advisable that the Committee specify within a short time which antibiotics are not eligible for veterinary use. This also holds good for substances such as mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds showing doubtful toxicological characteristics.