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🇳🇵 Nepal /Environment & Climate

Nepal bans three veterinary painkillers linked to vulture deaths

From Kathmandu Post · (4m ago) English Positive tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Nepal's Department of Drug Administration has banned three veterinary painkillers: Nimesulide, Aceclofenac, and Ketoprofen.
  • The ban aims to protect public health, animal health, and the environment, particularly vulture populations affected by livestock treated with these drugs.
  • This decision follows a recommendation from the Drug Advisory Committee and aligns with a previous ban on diclofenac, which significantly reduced vulture deaths.

The Nepali government has taken a decisive step to protect its natural heritage by banning three veterinary painkillers that have been linked to the mass deaths of vultures. This proactive measure, spearheaded by the Department of Drug Administration and supported by conservationists, underscores Nepal's commitment to environmental stewardship.

The decision to ban non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used in the treatment of ailing animals is in line with the recommendation of the 58th meeting of the Drug Advisory Committee held recently.

— Kiran Sunder BajracharyaInformation officer of the Department of Drug Administration explaining the rationale behind the ban.

The banned drugs—Nimesulide, Aceclofenac, and Ketoprofen—share similar toxic effects with diclofenac, a drug previously prohibited due to its devastating impact on vulture populations. The decision reflects a growing awareness and scientific understanding of the delicate ecological balance and the critical role vultures play as nature's scavengers.

We hope that a complete ban on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used in the treatment of ailing animals will help protect the vulture population, which is recovering after nearing extinction.

— Hari Bhadra AcharyaSenior ecologist and information officer at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation expressing optimism about the ban's impact.

Conservationists, like those from the IUCN's Vulture Specialist Group, have welcomed the ban, emphasizing the need for continued awareness campaigns and effective market regulation. The recovery of vulture populations, which were once on the brink of extinction, is a testament to the effectiveness of such targeted interventions. This move by Nepal not only safeguards its wildlife but also sets a precedent for responsible veterinary drug regulation in the region.

We hope that the move to ban the use of some non-steroidal medicines in animal treatment will help conservation efforts. Along with the restriction on production, import and sale of these medicines, authorities must launch an awareness drive and make market regulation effective.

— Krishna Prasad BhusalMember of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Vulture Specialist Group highlighting the need for comprehensive conservation strategies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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