Sales of antibiotics for animals at lowest level to date

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 half a percent of total veterinary antibiotic sales.

 This year's report marks 10 years of collecting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data from pigs and poultry in the harmonised monitoring programme, and for the first the time reports on AMR levels in sheep, beef, and dairy cattle.  

Abi Seager, Veterinary Medicines Directorate CEO 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."]

RUMA

Catherine McLaughlin, chair of The Responsible use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) said: "These latest results from both the VARSS Report and in our RUMA Agriculture Targets Task Force Report, demonstrate that the collaborative, voluntary efforts over the past decade from the UK farmed animal, bird and fish sectors in addressing AMR are clearly paying off. The fact that AMR continues to decline with multi-drug resistance in animals at an all-time low should be applauded and should reassure everyone that the work on responsible use and stewardship is making a real and tangible difference. "As RUMA Agriculture starts to plan for our third cycle of targets (TTF3) over the coming year, these latest results will undoubtedly give everyone the ongoing confidence and continued focus to build on what is already done and be as ambitious as possible as we drive forward our efforts to tackle AMR and protect the efficacy of antibiotics; all with the common goal of helping to save the lives of animals and people."

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