Now government advisorsslam feed antibiotics
18 August 1999
Now government advisors
slam feed antibiotics
By FWi staff
A SECOND report published today repeats claims that antibiotics given to animals result in the emergence of resistant bacteria which can infect humans.
First, the Soil Association said in its report this morning that the overuse of these drugs could lead to a threat to human health far greater than the BSE crisis.
Now, the Advisory Committee on the Microbial Safety of Food (ACMSF) has called for the use of growth promoters to be more closely controlled, with regular reviews of possible implications in human medicine.
The ACMSF also said no new products for the use of growth promoters should be developed which use substances which have possible applications in human clinical treatment.
Detailed recommendations cover:
- Enhanced surveillance and information to improve knowledge of microbial antibiotic resistance;
- Increased screening of micro-organisms for resistance;
- Reduced reliance on the use of antibiotic resistance in veterinary training and education;
- Consideration of the resistance question in the authorisation of veterinary medicines;
- Adoption of a cautious approach to the use of antibiotics as growth promoters;
- Avoiding the use of antibiotics, closely related to those used in human medicine, as growth promoters.
“Antibiotics should not be used to compensate for poor farming practice and weak standards of management,” noted the report.
“Our view is that, if human health is to be fully protected, then our recommendations for action on growth promoters should reflect the precautionary principle.”
Joyce Quin, minister of state at MAFF, welcomed the report, saying it reinforced the governments view that there is a need to ensure that antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines are used responsibly in both veterinary and human medicine.
“Clearly the problem of antibiotic resistance can only begin to be effectively tackled with the full co-operation of the veterinary and medical professions and the pharmaceutical and food industries here in the UK, and abroad,” she said.
Ms Quin said the government would be giving the report very careful consideration, and its response to the recommendations would be issued in due course.