Growth-promoter antibiotics not justified


17 September 1998


Growth-promoter antibiotics ‘not justified’

By FW staff

ANTIBIOTICS used as growth promoters in farm animals are not justified and should be replaced with safer non-microbial alternatives, including better farming practices.

That was the majority view at a special conference on the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in humans, organised for the EUs chief medical officers in Copenhagen.

But, while acknowledging the seriousness of the issue, others called for a full risk assessment and more research before taking any further action in the area of animal nutrition.

“The majority at the conference were from the human health and government fields,” said Johan Vanhemelrijck, secretary general of animal health body FEDESA.

“In that company, there was little chance everyone would applaud the use of antibiotics in animal nutrition.”

The majority of delegates favoured a phasing out of growth promoter antibiotics as other alternatives emerged. There was no pressure for an overnight ban.

The conference also called for more monitoring and education on the use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine, to help combat the problem of resistance.

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