Residues of veterinary pharmaceuticals may enter water and soil via manure and dung. Farmers can reduce this environmental impact through their farming practices. These teaching materials were designed for agricultural vocational schools. They contain worksheets, information on classroom design and background information for teachers. The teaching materials are available to teachers and learners for free use.

These teaching materials are intended to sensitise trainees from agricultural vocational schools to the problem of the environmental effects of veterinary pharmaceuticals so that they can subsequently develop action-oriented solutions.

The learning objectives of this teaching unit include:

• understanding definitions of target and non-target organisms
• distinguishing between desired effects, side effects and undesired environmental effects
• trace processes of veterinary pharmaceuticals in the environment (degradation, relocation and fate)
• understanding the effects of certain veterinary pharmaceuticals on the environment
• raising awareness of the problems involved in the future handling of veterinary pharmaceuticals

The teaching materials were developed under the lead of Ecologic Institute for the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA).