Thanks for the extra input Marco
Bekko this whole issue is VERY complex and involves a great deal of in depth reading and cross referencing to get the whole picture.
As far as I can tell what it basically boils down to is that in the UK and the entire EU soon to follow, drastic restrictions are about to be placed on the manufacturer, distribution, import and sale of most medicines used to treat our fish.
Small Animal Exemption Scheme Species included within the scheme- aquarium fish, (meaning fish kept in closed water systems)
- cage birds (meaning birds kept in cages or aviaries),
- homing pigeons (meaning pigeons kept for racing or exhibition),
- terrarium animals (meaning reptiles, amphibians and arthropods kept in tanks and cages and including animals free-living in domestic gardens),
- small rodents (meaning domestic mammals of the order rodentia),
- ferrets,
- rabbits.
The exemption applies only to pet animals not intended for human consumption.
Even though a few medications for non-consumption fish will be exempt, medicines that are still approved will subject to new (read expensive) safety and control regimes placing the manufacturing capacity outside the capability of smaller koi-specific suppliers like Kasuri etc. All producers must still meet the same stringent norms and controls relating to the manufacture of any veterinary medicine.
Requirements for manufacturers and distributors Although products covered by this Scheme are exempted from the requirement to hold a marketing authorisation, they are still legally classed as veterinary medicines. They must therefore meet all the requirements of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005 relating to the manufacture and wholesale dealing of veterinary medicines.
Some meds will be available simply as a generic product e.g Potassium Permanganate would be sold as pure KMnO4 with no mention of fish, dosages or koi use. As this is a chemical that has many uses it will be on sale but not as a medicine.
From what I can glean at this point all anesthetics will be for vet use only. So no Eugenol, MS-222 or comparable will be available. Topical treatments if used to fight illness will require the presents of a licenced Veterinarian.
No more DIY.
As of October 1st 2005 the ban has already taken effect though we are now in a transition phase that will end as of November 2007.
The sad thing is that this has been in the pipeline for quite some time and any number of organisations and hobby related periodicals could have made us (the koi hobby) aware of what was about to happen. This would have given us the capacity to raise our voices in protest and lobby the appropriate agencies for a bit of flexibility within the law pertaining to our hobby.
Realise that a Koi Mag that had ties with a company like Tetra would risk losing a client if they were to start shouting about this from the rooftops and thereby endangering the companies impending near-monopoly. But what is this all about, adds and making money or sustaining the koi hobby. I fear the lines have been drawn.
Now I fear it is too late and as of November next year many people are going to be in for a shock when they try to purchase what were up to that point normal supplies used in the koi hobby. They will find empty shelves of products that are of either too great a cost, insufficient quantity or both. The only recourse will be to have a vet make an expensive pond visit and hope that the good fellow has some basic understanding of how koi are diagnosed and treated.
IMO this whole subject is a much greater threat to the hobby that KHV and SVC combined. Things are about to change and the lack of interest and attention to this subject is absolutely pitiful.
For most of us the only option is to stock up and enjoy your supplies while they last!
B.Scott