VCP 411: Medicine Section

READ THE LABEL BEFORE USING ANY PRODUCT

• An approved medicine will have a label displaying:
  1. the product name, the active ingredient and the concentration of the drug
  2. product usage directions
  3. instructions for preparation if needed
     the formulation of the product, describing the contents of the package
  4. warning statements describing hazards to human health and safety associated with handling the product and any restrictions on use
  5. the withdrawal time, the recommended time between the last treatment and the slaughter of the animal for food (or sale of the milk)
  6. precautions statements that will alert you to storage and safe handling requirements to maintain product stability and potency
  7. indications statements describing the species, class of livestock and the disease conditions for which the product is to be used
  8. dosage and administration statements describing the directions for use (e.g. how much, how often and for how long), the route of administration (e.g. IM, SQ, IV) and the intervals between treatments
  9. cautions and contraindications statements warning about hazards to animal health and safety (e.g. potential adverse reactions)
  10. restricted uses, which are limitations for the use of the product (for example "Do not use in lactating cattle")
  11. directions to read package insert for more detailed directions, which alerts you to take special care when using the product, or to the need to ask your veterinarian for more complete instructions
  12. the expiry date, which is the date past which the unopened product should not be used
  13. the lot number, which is a record of the manufacturer's production batch