In an opinion published on Tuesday 24 January, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) say that it is time to reduce, replace and, where possible, rethink the use of anti-microbials in the animal production system.
The agencies admit that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem of resistance to antibiotics. Successful strategies follow an integrated, multifaceted approach which takes into account the local livestock production system and involves all relevant stakeholders — from governments to farmers, advise the EFSA and EMA.
Among proven strategies, they cite the establishment of national targets for reducing the use of antimicrobials; - banning preventative use of antibiotics except in a number of exceptional cases; - only using antibiotics that are of key importance to medicine on animals as a last resort.
Rethinking the farming system
More generally, the two agencies say there is a need to rethink the livestock farming system by implementing farm practices that prevent the introduction and spread of diseases on farms and coming up with viable alternative farming systems that do not use as many antimicrobials.
Indicators for verifying reduction in antimicrobial use
Next February, the EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) will publish an annual report on resistance to antibiotics in food, animals and human beings.
In July, the EFSA, EMA and ECDC will publish a report assessing the link between the consumption of antibiotics and resistance to bacteria in human beings and animals.
The three agencies will provide by the end of the year a list of indicators to allow risk-managers to monitor reduction to antimicrobial resistance and the use of antibiotics in food, human beings and food-producing animals.
The Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU intends to make progress in the first six months of the year by revising legislation on veterinary medicines and medicine-containing food, two items of legislation that aim to strengthen the fight against resistance for antimicrobials. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)