Brussels, 08/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Around 50% of the antibiotics prescribed in Europe are for animal use, which means that a “well coordinated approach” is necessary, said the European Parliament (EP) agriculture committee on Monday 7 February as it approved an oral question to the European Commission. Since resistance to antibiotics is exactly the same for humans and animals, and it is impossible to imagine modern animal husbandry without the use of antibiotics, “the European agriculture sector is facing a gigantic problem”, the committee adds.
In March, the agriculture committee will discuss a proposal for a resolution on resistance to antibiotics. The resolution is then expected to be debated and adopted by the plenary session of the EP in May.
In a report adopted on 5 May 2010 on evaluating the Community action plan on animal protection and welfare from 2006 to 2010, the EP welcomed the “considerable reduction” in the use of antibiotics for animals in member states after their use as a growth promoter was banned in the EU (although the use of these substances continues to be allowed in the United States and other countries). The Commission and member states were asked to “address the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in animals in a responsible way”. MEPs asked the Commission to “collect and analyse data on the use of animal health products, including antibiotics, with a view to ensuring the effective use of such products”.
The oral question asks the Commission: - the steps that have been taken and/or the measures planned for the collection and analysis of such data; - the way in which the Commission intends to organise its internal work on this important issue, in particular with regard to cooperation between DG Agri, DG Sanco and the EU agencies concerned; - the manner in which antibiotic resistance in animals will be tackled through future EU initiatives, strategies and/or legislative proposals. (L.C./transl.rt)