PM urged to curb antibiotic use in poultry

The Soil Association and Compassion in World Farming have written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown calling for action on antibiotic use in farming.

This came days after the publication of the Chief Medical Officer’s report on the problem of antimicrobial resistance being transferred from farm animals to humans.

Sir Liam Donaldson said: “Resistant bacteria developing in animals could pose a threat to people. Antibiotics must be used in moderation in agricultural settings and only when necessary for animal welfare.”

In the letter from Soil Association director Patrick Holden said: “We have chosen to raise this issue with Gordon Brown because we feel that only he is in a position to get DEFRA and the Department of Health working together in an effective and meaningful way to extend the Government’s important campaign to discourage unnecessary antibiotic use by doctors, vets and farmers.”

“While the government has directly intervened to reduce use in human medicine, it has relied instead on a range of voluntary initiatives by the farming, retail and pharmaceutical industries purporting to encourage the “responsible use” of antimicrobials. While we welcome these in principle, it is clear that in practice they do little more than endorse the irresponsible approach to the agricultural use of antibiotics and other veterinary antimicrobials that has persisted for many decades.”

However, speaking to Poultry World, a spokesperson at the National Office of Animal Health, which represents the UK animal medicines industry, highlighted that antibiotic use in the UK had been falling for 10 years. The latest figures published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate showed that antibiotic use in farming is the lowest since publication of the figures started 10 years ago.

“Those involved in livestock farming continue to be actively involved in reducing the need to use antibiotics, for example through the work of RUMA [Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance],” said NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley. “Antibiotics continue to be used responsibly by the veterinary profession and livestock farmers, for the benefit of animal health and welfare.