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There has been a 20% drop in the number of sales of antibiotics for animal use between 2011 and 2016 in 25 European countries, according to AnimalhealthEurope.
The organisation has welcomed the findings in a new report entitled, European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC), and said it is a step in the right direction in the fight against anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
“Our continuous awareness-raising actions, including on improving prevention of animal disease on farms, is clearly showing greater uptake in many countries across Europe of responsible use principles when it comes to animal health,” AnimalhealthEurope secretary general Roxane Feller said.
Ireland
In Ireland there was a minor increase in the sale of antibiotics compared with 2015, with penicillin accounting for 20% of all antibiotics sold for animal use in 2016.
In 2017, Ireland published its antimicrobial resistance plan 2017-2020 (iNAP), with knowledge transfer events highlighted as an education tool to raise awareness of AMR.
The report stated: “Sales of tetracyclines, penicillins and sulphonamides (in mg/PCU) were the largest contributors to the increases observed, accounting for approximately 40%, 20% and 19%, respectively, of all sales in 2016.”
“Between 2015 and 2016, a minor change from 50.9 mg/PCU to 52.1 mg/PCU was recorded, compared to a low of 46.5 mg/PCU in 2011 and a high of 55.9 mg/PCU in 2013. A slight increase of 2.3% in tonnes of active ingredients sold was observed between 2015 and 2016.”
Netherlands
Other countries saw a bigger decrease in the use of antibiotics, with the Netherlands recording a 64% drop in sales of antimicrobial agents between 2010 and 2016.
This was cited as being down to a concerted industry effort between major production and vets.
However, it should be noted that Ireland’s use of antibiotics is significantly lower than some of the 30 countries listed in the study.
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