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Mandatory one-to-one contracts between veterinarians and cattle breeders are allowed

According to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM), the mandatory one-to-one contracts between veterinarians and cattle breeders do not harm competition. The implementation of the agreement on reducing the use of antibiotics and on promoting sustainable cattle-breeding can therefore continue. Under such contracts, each cattle breeder has one veterinarian that is responsible for veterinary care. Several veterinarians filed a complaint with ACM because they believed that the mandatory one-to-one contracts harmed both the cattle breeders’ freedom of choice as well as the competition between veterinarians.

Antibiotics are used in the cattle industry to heal sick animals or to prevent the animals from becoming sick. Too much or incorrect use of antibiotics may lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. If people become sick from such bacteria, it will be more difficult to cure them because most antibiotics will then not help. In 2008, the agreement on ‘Antibiotic Resistance in Animal Husbandry’ was signed, which aims to reduce the use of antibiotics and to make animal husbandry more sustainable. The mandatory one-to-one contracts between veterinarians and cattle breeders are part of that agreement. A one-to-one relationship between a veterinarian and cattle breeder, and the associated health plan help reduce the use of antibiotics, as well as help use antibiotics more correctly.

ACM has concluded that enough competition among veterinarians will remain, and that cattle breeders will continue to have enough freedom to choose a veterinarian themselves. For example, cattle breeders will continue to have the opportunity to switch veterinarians, and veterinarians are allowed to recruit customers. In addition, other veterinarians (specialized or general ones) will be able to work for cattle breeders that have one-to-one contracts.