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Science and Technology -- Third Report, March 2001
Excerpt -- Animal Antibiotics
March 2001
- There is good news about this problem from the agricultural sector.
Sales of antibiotics for use in animals—the
best available proxy for actual use—have fallen from a peak of 629 tonnes of
active ingredient in 1996 to 411
tonnes in 1999. The largest fall is in the antibiotic "growth promoters"
administered by farmers; the EU banned four
of these from July 1999, including virginiamycin, about which we expressed
most concern three years ago[5]. This
leaves only a further four in use, none of which has an analogue in human
medicine (Q 5); their status is under close
review by the EU Commission.
- Use of antibiotics by veterinary surgeons has also fallen, though not by
so much. We expressed greatest
concern over use by vets of the fluoroquinolones[6]; use of these potent
drugs has hardly changed (Q 4).
- We called in 1998 for clear codes of practice guiding vets on the
prudent use of antibiotics, particularly
fluoroquinolones. We are pleased to hear that the profession has taken up
this challenge, and that there is now a
"plethora" of such codes (p 12, Q 4), all of which encourage only the most
sparing use of fluoroquinolones.
- These codes are no doubt partly responsible for the fall in volumes
noted above. Credit must also go the British
Veterinary Association for its courses in veterinary pharmacy. Other factors
probably playing a part are consumer
pressure, and the prolonged crisis in farm incomes (QQ 9-11). We urge the
veterinary profession to continue
to reinforce the message.
- Experience in Denmark, Sweden and other countries has shown that, with
improved husbandry, farmers can do
without growth promoters altogether; this is now official EU policy[7]. MAFF
is funding research into improved
husbandry (Q 11); we welcome this, and look forward to seeing it turned into
practice.
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