Call to ban imports over use of antibiotics as growth promoters

Industry and veterinary leaders have backed calls for a UK import ban on products from animals given growth-promoting antibiotics, citing public health concerns and fairer competition for farmers.

The Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics (Asoa) is urging ministers to mirror new EU rules that will prohibit imports of meat, dairy products and eggs from animals given antibiotics to accelerate growth from 3 September 2026.

See also: Farm use of antibiotics hits record low in the UK

British and EU farmers have been banned from using antibiotics as growth promoters since 2006 as part of efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

However, products from countries where the practice remains legal can currently be imported into both markets.

The World Health Organization has identified antimicrobial resistance as one of the world’s most significant public health threats, with overuse of antibiotics a major contributing factor.

Asoa believes the EU’s new import restrictions will encourage exporting nations to raise standards if they wish to retain access to the European market.

Unfair competition shield

Asoa spokesman Cóilín Nunan said: “Extending the EU’s ban on antibiotic growth promotion will help protect public health and shield farmers from unfair competition.

“The UK government needs to implement a similar ban, to protect its consumers and farmers.”

Mr Nunan added that the planned new sanitary and phytosanitary agreement being negotiated between the UK and the EU “provides an ideal opportunity for the UK to align with the EU on this and other important farm-antibiotic standards”.

Important tool

Antibiotics remain an important tool for treating and controlling bacterial disease in livestock, but campaigners stress they should not be used to promote growth.

Veterinary and industry representatives said they would welcome moves to tighten standards.

Jim Hopkins, clinical director at Steffan Veterinary Services and director of Iechyd Da, said: “We have very sustainable farming practices in the UK, where we’re reasonably responsible in what we’re doing with everything around chemical use and welfare of animals, so it would make sense to be aligned with the best practice.”

National Pig Association chief policy adviser Katie Jarvis said the EU ban would prevent farmers from being undercut by imports produced to lower standards.

“The EU ban will ensure that their farmers are not disadvantaged by cheaper imported products produced in a way that is not legal in the EU, and we would welcome a similar ban on these imports to the UK,” she said.

Responsible use

Ms Jarvis added that antibiotic use in the UK pig sector has fallen by more than 70% since 2015 and that the industry remains committed to responsible use.

“The NPA believes that antibiotics must not be used as a substitute for good farm management nor as a method to promote growth,” she said.

The alliance also pointed to recent changes in Brazil, where authorities have restricted the use of several medically important antibiotics as growth promoters.

The EU Commission has said Brazilian exports can continue if producers can demonstrate compliance with the new EU rules throughout an animal’s lifetime.