Antibiotics sales for livestock have reached the lowest levels since recording began a decade ago, according to a new report published today (Tuesday, November 19) by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).
The figures, published in the latest UK-Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance (VARSS) Report during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, show that antibiotic sales in food-producing animals remain at a 59% reduction since 2014.
Sales of antibiotics of highest critical importance to human health remain at extremely low levels, accounting for less than 0.5% of total veterinary antibiotic sales.
Producers, feed companies and veterinary practice sales records provided the antibiotic use data presented in the UK-VARSS report.
The VMD, which is the UK’s policy lead for AMR, monitors antibiotic resistance through two programmes:
- Harmonised monitoring- this is a UK-wide programme which tests samples taken from healthy livestock for the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria before the animal is slaughtered.
- Clinical surveillance programme -this relies on the voluntary submission of diagnostic samples submitted to government and partner laboratories by farmers and veterinary surgeons based in England and Wales.
Veterinary medicines directorate CEO, Abi Seager, said:
“The VMD has been publishing antibiotic sales, use and resistance data for the UK’s animal population for over a decade and the positive trends demonstrate the dedication of the UK’s farmers and vets to ensure responsible antibiotic use in animals.
“I am especially proud of our AMR surveillance programme which continues to expand and become more robust.
“This year also marks the launch of the 2024-2029 AMR National Action Plan, and I look forward to seeing renewed ambition from the veterinary and agriculture sectors as they set new targets through RUMA’s Targets Task Force next year.”
This year’s report marks 10 years of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data collection from pigs and poultry in the harmonised monitoring programme, and the first year to document AMR levels in sheep, beef, and dairy cattle.
This data helps provide a more complete picture of AMR and begins to address one of key commitments of the UK’s new National Action Plan on AMR, published in May 2024, to tackle our information gaps around antibiotic use and resistance.
AMR presents a huge global challenge for human and animal health, food security, and economic growth. It occurs when bacteria and other microorganisms evolve to resist antimicrobial drugs, rendering these treatments less effective or even ineffective in animals and people.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural affairs, predict that 39 million deaths will be directly attributable to bacterial AMR between now and 2050, therefore, avoiding unnecessary antibiotic usage in humans and animals is crucial to mitigating antibiotic resistance.
In addition to the new National Action Plan, the United Nation’s High-Level Meeting on AMR, which took place in September, resulted in a landmark political declaration to galvanise international action.
“This year’s UK-VARSS report demonstrates how continued collaboration is helping to maintain progress in the responsible use of antibiotics thereby stemming the AMR tide.
“It is crucial that we continue to work with our farmers and vets as well as our counterparts internationally on tackling this One Health risk,” UK chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss said.
