Brussels, 29/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - An EU-wide ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed enters into effect on January 1, 2006. The ban is the final step in the phasing out of antibiotics used for non-medicinal purposes. It is part of the Commission's overall strategy to tackle the emergence of bacteria and other microbes resistant to antibiotics, due to their overexploitation or misuse. Antibiotics will now only be allowed to be added to animal feed for veterinary purposes. Antibiotics used for humans have already been banned for animal feed. The new ban covers the last 4 authorised antibiotics, namely monensin sodium used for cattle for fattening; salinomycin sodium used for piglets and pigs fattening; avilamycin used for piglets, pigs for fattening, chickens for fattening and turkeys and flavophospholipol used for rabbits laying hens, chickens for fattening, turkeys, piglets, pigs, calves and cattle for fattening. Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said: “We need to greatly reduce the non-essential use of antibiotics if we are to effectively address the problem of micro-organisms becoming resistant to treatments that we have relied on for years. Animal feed is the first step in the food chain, and so a good place to take action in trying to meet this objective.”