– I have to destroy my entire herd of sheep, which I have spent eight years building up with tame, decent animals. I have to start all over again. It’s out of the question for me. Then the operation is shut down. That’s what farmer Kjetil Hovde says to news. It was Nationen that first wrote about the matter. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has made demands on the basis that Hovde used chloramphenicol eye ointment on two ewes in 2020. – It is almost three years since they were on inspection and saw this in my animal husbandry record, says Hovde. In the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s first decision, it was stated that Hovde had to kill 170 animals. He complained about that. After the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has assessed the case for the second time, the farmer from Lillesand has now been required to kill 45 dead animals. – In the original decision, I had to slaughter lambs, sheep and goats. Now only sheep born before 31 March 2021 must be destroyed, says Hovde. – Got medicine from the vet Hovde says that he got the medicine from the vet. – I had a ewe that was fond of a weed in the hay trough. She always stuck her head in very far to get hold of it and then she obviously got a straw in her eye. According to the farmer, two tubes of Chloramphenicol ointment were prescribed. Hovde says this is printed for 200,000 people in Norway every year. – Then it turned out that this was completely forbidden to use on sheep. Understands the frustration Acting section manager for animal health in the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Julie Enebo Grimstad, says that they have great understanding that the handling is perceived as strict and invasive, but says that they have to deal with such cases in cash. – Chloramphenicol can cause serious blood disease and is suspected of being carcinogenic. That is why the Norwegian Food Safety Authority is strict when we discover that this agent has been given illegally to animals. The substance has been prohibited from being used on animals that are intended for food since 1995. – We cannot allow food that is dangerous to health to end up on the market, says Grimstad. She explains that when animals entering the food chain receive treatment, the medication must be documented on an individual level, both by the veterinarian and the animal owner. – If this is not done, and we do not know which animal received treatment, it may be necessary to euthanize more animals than the one that actually received the treatment. Grimstad says they fully understand that it is frustrating that the complaint has taken a long time to process. – We apologize for that. It is simply about resources with us. Will appeal the decision In the time after the salve use was discovered, Hovde has repeatedly sent lambs to slaughter. – I have applied in writing and received a written answer that it is okay to slaughter, until the final decision on the case. They have agreed to this practice for three years, but when they finally had time to process the application I am no longer allowed to do so. I find that very funny, says Hovde. news has asked the Norwegian Food Safety Authority whether Hovde should have been allowed to slaughter during the mentioned time period. We have not received an answer to that. Hovde is now considering whether a summons should be issued or whether he should demand a change. – We are going to appeal this to the district court, but will have to look into it in more detail in August.
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Farmer used eye ointment on two sheep
