More than 8,500 veterinary products were returned to participating practices in 2025 during the annual Animal Medicines Amnesty, a substantial increase from approximately 2,500 returns in 2024. This year's campaign is set to run throughout November, urging clinicians to participate.
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The campaign, organized by the RUMA Companion Animal and Equine (CA&E) group, has evolved to include a broader range of medicines beyond antibiotics, which were the sole focus last year. Steve Howard, secretary general of the group, emphasized the importance of responsible medicine use and its wider implications for public health and environmental safety.
An online toolkit is available for veterinary practices, providing resources like summary papers and promotional materials to help them engage clients. This year's campaign is supported by Zoetis, a major pharmaceutical company, which aims to reduce the risk of inappropriate use of returned medicines.
Jonny Lambert, CA veterinary lead at Zoetis, highlighted the significance of returning unused products as a way to safeguard animal health and protect the environment. Howard noted that although the requirements for participation are straightforward, the potential collective impact on responsible medicine use can be significant.