Page 36 of articles about antimicrobial

For the first time since 2002, the total antimicrobial consumption in pigs decreased. The decrease in consumption was 5% measured in doses per pig produced (adjusted for export of pigs around 30 kg) compared with the 2009 level, but remained above the 2008 level (by 7%).

With regard to the Ractopamine-Free Production (RFP) of pig meat destined to be exported to the EU the system is still at an early stage of development.

Compiled by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the report indicates that resistance to antimicrobials was observed in zoonotic bacteria, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, which may cause infectious diseases transmissible between animals and humans and which can be found in foods.

Thirteen people have been convicted in connection with Europe’s biggest ever illegal veterinary medicine business in which more than £6 million of products were smuggled to the UK, risking the health of people and animals.

A new Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) survey has shown no human health implications from antimicrobial resistance in New Zealand food-producing animals and fresh produce.

Drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria linked to a wide range of human diseases, are present in meat and poultry from U.S. grocery stores at unexpectedly high rates, according to a nationwide study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

Pig farmers with big farms located in areas with many pigs use more than the average amount of antibiotics. Farms with pigs and other animals also tend to use more antibiotics than specialized pig farms. These are the research results of Ine van der Fels-Klerx of Rikilt. Together with LEI, she examined the business factors which influence antibiotics use.

In the present report, the EU overall assessment includes all animal/animal product categories and is presented for each main substance group. In the previous reports this included only livestock animals.

South Korea plans to ban the mixing of antibiotics with animal feed from July in an effort to raise consumer trust in the safety of livestock products, Yonhap news agency reported quoting the government as saying Tuesday.

Resistance to antibiotics in livestock and pets has become a huge issue in recent years. To cope with this growing problem and the consequent treatment failures, Parliament issued a call on Thursday for more research and better monitoring of the effects of antimicrobials on food-producing animals and pets. It would also help if antibiotics were used less, stress MEPs.

Danish Minister for Health and minister of Food have agreed to make the fight against antibiotic resistance one of their top priorities when Denmark takes over EU presidency.

The American Veterinary Medical Assn. (AVMA) has created a committee specifically to provide input to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on policies and regulations governing veterinarians’ involvement in the use of antimicrobials in food animals.