18/05/2011

Last week MEPs called for pan-European action to tackle the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance in animals. The calls were made in a resolution tabled on Thrusday (12th May) by Paolo De Castro, chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, which outlined the need to prevent resistance and protect humans from transferable diseases.

The resolution demands greater research into alternative methods of protecting animals against disease, better monitoring of the effects of antimicrobials on food-producing animals and pets and an overall reduction in the use of antibiotics. The MEPs stressed that a "coordinated approach" to combat the threat is essential.

In a debate on 11th May, Mr De Castro said, "If used properly antibiotics are a useful tool but we ask the Commission for concrete measures to achieve more efficient use of antimicrobials so as to reduce resistance in animals." He also outlined the potential risks to human health posed by growing antimicrobial resistance, which could see an increase of diseases transferring from animals to humans who would be ill-equipped to deal with them.

The MEPs would like to see an increase in the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) budgets, to allow for a greater ability to carry out inspections and studies in order to monitor the 2006 ban on antimicrobials as growth promoters.

However, Dawn Howard, an NFU representative in Brussels, said antimicrobials should be used "as little as possible, but as much as necessary," claiming that the UK already supported the responsible use of antimicrobials.

She said, "We are pleased MEPs listened to our advice and have come out with this sensible resolution. Farmers recognise human health must be the overriding consideration guiding anti-microbial use. Our combined industry efforts are therefore tailored to encourage responsible use of anti-microbials in farm animals to reduce any possibility of loss of efficacy in both animal and human treatment. The responsible use of all veterinary medicines in British livestock farming is vital to maintaining our high standards of food safety, animal health and welfare."