Download - WHOCC

1 Introduction to the ATCvet classification system
1.1 History of the ATC/DDD- and the ATCvet systems
The basis for the ATCvet classification system is the ATC (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical)
classification system for human medicines, which was developed in Norway in the early
seventies. The use of the ATC classification and the DDD (Defined Daily Dose defined as the
assumed average daily dose of a substance used in its main indication in adults) as a unit of
measurement was introduced in the Nordic countries in 1976.
In 1982, the WHO Regional Office for Europe established the WHO Collaborating Centre for
Drug Statistics Methodology in Oslo. The main tasks of the Centre are to develop and maintain
the ATC/DDD system, and to stimulate and influence the practical use of the ATC system by cooperating
with researchers in the drug utilization field.
In 1996 WHO Headquarters in Geneva decided to recommend the ATC/DDD system as an
international standard for drug utilization studies. The WHO appointed an expert group for the
ATC/DDD system. The WHO International Working Group for Drug Statistics Methodology
includes people from all regions. The Group meets twice annually.
The Nordic Council on Medicines established the ATCvet classification system in 1990. In
January 2001, the ATCvet was taken over by the WHO Collaborating Centre. The Norwegian
authorities fund the work with ATCvet.
1.2 The purpose of the ATCvet classification system
ATCvet is a system for the classification of substances intended for therapeutic use, and can
serve as a tool for the classification of medicinal products.
The ATCvet system provides an administrative tool for putting groups of drugs into systems
according to therapeutic categories. The aim is to:
- facilitate exchanges of data for pharmacovigilance studies;
- improve the comparability of statistics on sales of veterinary medicinal products;
- provide authors of scientific articles with a tool for identifying medicines; and
- help veterinarians and pharmacists in their everyday work.
In many European countries, veterinary medicinal products are presented in accordance with the
ATCvet system in drug catalogues, and the system is used as an administrative tool by the health
authorities. Since many substances are used in both human and veterinary medicine, the
possibility of linking the classification systems for the two areas is of considerable value. The
ATCvet system is therefore being developed in close association with the ATC system.
11