STRATEGY ▶▶▶
Antibiotic reduction in the EU progressing at different speeds
The global livestock sector has made great steps torwards antibiotic reduction but regional approaches differ, even in countries under the same general regime. A closer look at two EU member states shows that countries are moving at different speeds and that the road to success can be bumpy.
BY REBECCA KWAKMAN C
ountries across the globe have pledged to reduce the use of antibiotics and the European Union is no exception. The European Commission’s One Health Action Plan Against Antimicrobial Resistance
marked a big step towards achieving the EU’s goal of mitigat- ing AMR across all member states. Ten years after it was first published, however, the reality shows that different member states have had drastically different trajectories towards achieving this goal. A closer look at the Netherlands and Spain shows the importance of close cooperation between governments and industries.
Early adoption has results The trend in sales of veterinary antimicrobial agents shows a clear downward path in the Netherlands (Figure 1). In the Netherlands, the National Institute for Public Health and the
Figure 1 - Antibiotic reduction in The Netherlands. Country
2010 Netherlands 146.1 2011 113.8 2012 74.9 2013 69.9 2014 68.4 2015 64.4
Environment (RIVM) and the Netherlands Food and Con- sumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) are tasked with combating antimicrobial resistance. Guidelines are strict: only veterinarians can prescribe and administer antibiotics to sick animals and may only do so only after they have inspected the premises. Farmers may only administer veterinary-pre- scribed antibiotics themselves under very strict rules. In addition, poultry, dairy, veal calf and pig farmers are required to register the use of antibiotics on their premises. Antibiotics which are used as a last resort for human medical care may not be used in animals (except under very strict conditions). The veterinarian and the farmer must create what’s known as a ‘health plan’ for their farms which includes measures to pro- mote animal health, and this plan must be evaluated every year. The NVWA oversees the registration of antibiotic usage and monitors the use of antibiotics in the livestock sector. In addition to government action, the Netherlands has a long tradition of quality control systems within the industry itself, promoting best practices on multiple levels and in many are- as of livestock farming, including antibiotic reduction. An ex- ample from the Dutch broiler industry is the IKB Kip (Integrat- ed Chain Control Chicken) which is a quality assurance system developed by and for the entire broiler sector which all par- ties, ranging from breeders to slaughterhouses, are affiliated with to ensure quality and security throughout the broiler meat chain and contribute to safe and healthy poultry meat.
2016 52.7 2017 56.3 2018 146.1 57.5 52.7
Figure 2 - Antibiotic reduction in Spain. Country
2010 Spain 259.5 2011 335.8 2012 302.4 2013 317.1 Trends 2010-2017
2014 418.8
2015 402.0
2016 362.5
2017 230.5
2018 418.8 219.2 230.3 6 ▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 29, No. 8, 2021
Trends 2010-2017
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