Considerable efforts have been made in veterinary medical practices to limit the use of antibiotics (50% reduction between 2011 and 2022). However, antibiotic resistance remains a major challenge in terms of animal welfare, sustainability and the economic viability of agricultural systems.
The contamination by antibiotic-resistant bacteria of farm animals, and the food products derived from them, can be linked to...
- the misuse of antibiotics
- contamination of their environment (soil, water)
- poor compliance with biosecurity measures
- the spread of bacterial strains within livestock farms due to animals living in close quarters
- contamination in the food processing chain
This bacterial resistance in animals used for food production can then be transmitted to humans through a variety of routes, such as…
- the handling and consumption of uncooked contaminated food
- direct contact with livestock
- exposure to the livestock farming environment
The European Union and France have introduced strict regulations on the use of antibiotics in livestock farming in order to protect consumers and to limit the spread of antibiotic resistance.
These include:
- A ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters for animals reared in the European Union as well as for all imported animals and animal-based products
- The need for a veterinary prescription, in all European countries, for any veterinary drugs containing antimicrobials (e.g. antibiotics)
- Stringent and regulated restrictions on the use of antimicrobial veterinary drugs
- A total ban on the use in animals of certain substances, which are reserved for the treatment of infections in humans, in order to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics (e.g. a strict ban on the use of carbapenems for animals); the use of critical antibiotics, which are officially listed, is subject to strict conditions when it comes to prescribing them
On a more general level, in livestock farming, certain precautions can be taken to help prevent and tackle the spread of antibiotic resistance:
- Only administer antibiotics to animals when prescribed by a veterinary surgeon; always adhere to indicated use
- Only use antibiotics when strictly necessary, following recommendations specific to each animal species and any legal requirements
- Vaccinate animals to reduce the need for antibiotics and promote alternatives to antibiotics, whenever possible
- Improve animal hygiene and animal welfare to prevent infections
- Implement biosecurity measures
- Use effluent and manure treatment techniques to reduce the release of residual antibiotics into the environment, whenever possible