Mixed views on animal antibiotics report by UK’s Antimicrobial Resistance review

Agri-food analysts have issued mixed responses to a UK report linking antibiotic use in animals to a critical threat to human health.

Jim O’Neill, chair of the UK’s Antimicrobial Resistance review, said: “We treat them [antibiotics] like sweets and the problem is compounded in some parts of the world, made even worse by the same behaviour with animals,” he said.

Mr O’Neill says 100 out of 139 scientific papers studied by his group found links between antibiotic use in animals and dangerous antibiotic resistance in humans.

The International Federation for Animal Health Europe has welcomed the report’s view that antibiotic resistance is a global issue.

It notes the UK report calls for a global target for the reduction of antibiotics, but says it should be for individual countries to decide how best to achieve this goal.

“As animal species, husbandry practices and climate conditions vary in different parts of the world, proposals to apply standards from one country may not be feasible for other countries,” said Roxane Feller, IFAH-Europe secretary general.

“In the interest of animal welfare, the main objective should be to reduce resistance to antibiotics, not simply to reduce antibiotic use,” she said.

UK’s National Farmers Union says arbitrary restrictions on the use of antibiotics and various other pharmaceutical products such as fungicides could have a detrimental impact on animal and plant health.

The union’s Cat McLaughlin said: “The National Farmers Union is disappointed with the lack of context and consultation in the review.

"As part of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance, an independent non-profit group involving organisations that represent all stages of the food chain from farm to fork, the National Farmers Union believes responsible use of antibiotics in British farming is crucial for the industry to maintain high levels of animal health and welfare.”

The British Veterinary Association said it is opposed to the introduction of arbitrary, non-evidence based target setting.

It says the current EU legislation on vets’ prescribing of antibiotics for all animals, is robust.

Sean Wensley of the association said: “Use of antibiotics in agriculture is just one piece of the jigsaw; we need increased collaboration between health sectors to ensure steps are taken to preserve these essential drugs for future generations.”