This final report contains the interim results of a project on communication strategies for reducing agriculture-related entry of veterinary pharmaceuticals into the environment.

Residues of veterinary pharmaceuticals may enter water and soil via manure and dung. Veterinarians can reduce this environmental impact through their practices. These teaching materials were designed for further veterinary training. They consist of lecture slides and accompanying background material. The teaching materials are available to teachers and learners for free use.

Residues of veterinary pharmaceuticals may enter water and soil via manure and dung. Farmers can reduce this environmental impact through their practices. These teaching materials have been designed for advanced learners in agriculture. They consist of presentation slides and accompanying background material. The slides are designed for a 90-minute lecture. The teaching materials are available for teachers and learners to use freely.

Residues of veterinary pharmaceuticals may enter and be dispersed through water and soil via manure and dung. Farmers can reduce these environmental impacts 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.

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.

This portal provides information on how veterinary medicines enter the environment, explains their environmental impact and points out ways to reduce the number of entries. It is aimed at farmers and veterinarians in the livestock sector, in particular for cattle, pigs and poultry. Particular attention is paid to disease prevention measures, as veterinary medicinal products which do not need to be administered cannot enter the environment.

This illustration visualizes the processes of degradation, runoff, accumulation, uptake and infiltration of veterinary drugs in the environment. Active substances from veterinary medicines behave very differently depending on the substance and location properties. While sulfonamides, for example, can be transferred to groundwater, tetracyclines tend to accumulate in the topsoil.

Care and hygiene help to minimise the direct entry of veterinary medicines into the environment. Carry-over of veterinary medicines is an unnecessary waste, can endanger the health of operators and have no therapeutic benefits for animals. Carry-over antibiotics can contribute to the development of resistance in humans, animals and the environment. This infographic illustrates five ways to reduce the carry-over of veterinary medicines in the barn.

This brochure is aimed at farmers. It provides information on how veterinary medicines enter the environment and explains their environmental impact. It also identifies ways in which environmental aspects can be taken into account in the application of veterinary medicinal products and the use of fertilisers containing veterinary medicinal products. Precautionary health measures are of particular importance. Veterinary medicines that do not need to be administered in the first place cannot harm the environment.

This brochure is aimed at veterinarians. It provides information on how veterinary medicines enter the environment, explains their environmental impact and shows how environmental aspects can be taken into account in daily veterinary work. The advisory role of veterinary medicine in relation to preventive health management is of particular importance.

This checklist for veterinary medicine and animal husbandry recalls the most important environmental issues when using veterinary medicines.

The infographic illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of four different cleaning methods for nipple drinks in pigsties with drawings. Dirt, heat and moisture in pipes and on drinking troughs provide ideal conditions for the propagation of germs in the so-called biofilm. Pathogens that have reached the drinking trough with saliva or nasal secretions from animals can survive there and can be transmitted to new animal groups.

This infographic provides a brief overview of the effects of active pharmaceutical ingredients observed in studies on non-target organisms that have been submitted and evaluated in the context of veterinary drug approvals (status 2017). A detailed version of the table, which also includes effect concentrations and sources of literature, can be downloaded as a PDF file.

Residues of veterinary medicines (VETs) can increasingly be detected in soil and water and are becoming the focus of scientific and public debate. This project created information and teaching materials for veterinarians and farmers, in order to make them aware of how to prevent VETs from being introduced into the environment.