Figures published today by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, as part of a government strategy to address antibiotic resistance and the overuse of antimicrobials, show the quantity of veterinary antibiotics used in the UK increased by 11 per cent last year. Of these, 87 per cent were used on farm animals.

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The information was published as part of a government strategy to compile information on antibiotic use, with the aim of developing more effective strategies for tackling overuse and misuse of the drugs, which can give rise to antibiotic resistant ‘superbugs.’

The data, which has been collected and published by the VMD since 2006, had shown decreasing use up until 2009, whereupon the levels used increased by 18 tonnes. In 2010 total sales were shown to have increased again, this time by 45 tonnes, bringing the total amount of antibiotics sold to 447, higher even than the amount used in 2006.

The use of antibiotics as growth promoters has been banned in the UK since 2006, though their prophylactic use continues in some systems. The VMD’s report is extremely relevant, as it coincides with announcements from Europe and calls from farming groups that non-essential use of antibiotics should be curtailed in order to preserve their efficacy in treating human illness.  

Although the government has claimed to be taking the threat of antibiotic resistance “very seriously,” Defra appeared unconcerned by the results; one spokesperson said the increase was due to an increase in production. He said, “Between 2009 and 2010 significantly more meat and milk was produced in Britain/Europe, so similar amounts of veterinary antimicrobials were used per tonne of food produced.”

He also pointed out that in 2010, the wet summer caused a rise in the level of diseases requiring treatment and swine dysentery increased in pigs. However, a breakdown of the results shows sales of pig only products fell last year, although use of pig and poultry and poultry only products rose dramatically. Sales of cattle only products remained at similar levels.

Last week the European Commission unveiled its five-year action plan aimed at combating antimicrobial resistance in human and animal medicine by tackling overuse and incorrect use in agriculture and medicine. A newly formed coalition of farming organisations also published a report investigating the problem; the group called for antibiotic usage in EU farms to be halved by 2015.