Impulse Lecture “How French vets are networking around phyto- aromatherapy: the RéPAAS?”

Veterinarians in practice are very often asked about therapeutic use of medicinal plants. To acquire reliable scientific information on this subject some vets followed postgraduate programs in Pharmacy Universities. Until recently, French veterinary schools did not include courses in herbal medicine in their curriculum. Three French veterinary technical organisations AFVAC*, AVEF**, SNGTV***created the RéPAAS● in 2018. This veterinary network was funded with a grant from the DGAL (French general directorate of food -Ministry of Agriculture) as part of the Eco-Antibio plan.

In France, farmers and animal owners often use herbal products, mainly feeds or dietary supplements, mixtures of various plants of unknown quantity and quality. Unfortunately, these practices are not supervised by vets (neither at prescription stage nor during follow-up), mainly due to limitations imposed by the current regulatory frame on maximal residue limit.

Vets are the only professionals able to make an accurate diagnosis and ensure traceability and efficiency evaluation of their treatments. They must stay up to date with the scientific literature and share their empirical practical experiences. This can now be done via the RéPAAS website, which will also help implement research protocols.

The ANSES (French National Agency of Sanitary Safety) Plants workgroup also works together with the RéPAAS network, as a reliable body to share information to promote an evolution of the current farm animal legislation.

*AFVAC : Association Française des Vétérinaires pour Animaux de Compagnie

**AVEF : Association Vétérinaires Equine Française

***SNGTV : Société Nationale des Groupements Techniques Vétérinaires

https://www.repaas.org/

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023