Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTG)

Source: This post on Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTG) has been created based on the article “New guidelines promote Ayurveda, regulate use of antibiotics in veterinary treatment” published in The Hindu on 28th October 2024.

Why in news?

The Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry recently released the Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTG).

About the guidelines

1. About: It is the first comprehensive set of guidelines covering nearly all animal and bird diseases. It is designed to lower residues of antibiotics, hormones, and other drugs in animal-source foods (ASFs), contributing to safer food and better soil health.

2. It is envisioned as a tool to achieve consistent health standards in animals, prevent excessive medication, and enhance food safety.

3. Developed by: Ministry of Animal Husbandry

4. Objective: To regulate and reduce antibiotic use in treating diseases in livestock and poultry.

5. Aims:

i) To minimize antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by promoting regulated and effective treatments.

ii) Incorporates detailed information on drug usage, including dosages, treatment duration, predicted drug requirements, withdrawal periods, and potential side effects.

6. Integration of Ayurvedic and Ethnoveterinary Medicine: It includes ethnoveterinary practices and Ayurvedic drugs to provide cost-effective treatment alternatives for marginal and small-scale farmers.

7. Economic and Environmental Impact: It is expected to reduce treatment costs for farmers by encouraging the use of more affordable medicines.

8. It also aims to support veterinary professionals, animal health workers, and farmers by providing precise, quality treatment options.

9. SVTG emphasizes rational drug use, particularly for managing bovine mastitis, where validated herbal treatments have shown effectiveness. It is expected to significantly reduce AMR risk and contribute to better health management practices across the livestock and poultry sectors in India.

UPSC Syllabus: Governance