Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture
Budget
€50 — €0
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
1
0.5 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
RUMA is a unique, independent non-profit group involving organisations representing all stages of the animal food chain from ‘farm to fork’ that have an interest in the stewardship of animal medicines in agriculture. This reflects the importance of traceability, transparency and accountability at all points in the chain: from primary food production, through processing, manufacturing and retailing to the final consumer.
EU Legislative Interests
Veterinary medicines for use in livestock, antimicrobial resistance and medicated feed legislation
Communication Activities
All RUMA activities including press releases are set out in www.ruma.org.uk. Main work is representing the livestock sectors of the UK prmoting the responsible use of medicines, which involved producing guidelines on responsible use of antimicrobials for farmers and vets which are available free on the website. In 2017, the RUMA led Targets Task Force published the first set of comprehensive livestock sector antibioitc reduction targets, which run to 2020. These targets were updated in 2025 to align with the UK AMR Strategy 2024 - 2029. The initial targets and annual updates can be found at :- https://www.ruma.org.uk/targets-task-force/ RUMA also maintains a website to provide information on antibiotic use in farming www.farmantibiotics.org.
Interests Represented
Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Member Of
RUMA is a member of the European equivalent organisation EPRUMA - European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals
Organisation Members
RUMA members At January 2019, RUMA members are: • Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) • AHDB Beef and Lamb, AHDB Pork, AHDB Dairy • Animal Health Distributors Association (AHDA UK Ltd) • Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) • Assured Food Standards (AFS) - Red Tractor • British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) • British Meat Processors’ Association (BMPA) • British Poultry Council (BPC) • British Retail Consortium (BRC) • British Trout Association (BTA) • British Veterinary Association (BVA) • City and Guilds Land Based Services • Dairy UK • Game Farmers’ Association (GFA) • Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) • National Farmers’ Union (NFU) • National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) • National Pig Association (NPA) • National Sheep Association (NSA) • NFU Scotland • Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) • Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF • Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) • Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) • Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) RUMA’s observers are the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.