Page 39 of articles about antimicrobial

In the framework of article 31 of Regulation EC 178/2002, the European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority for assistance in preparing an annual technical report of the results of residue monitoring in food of animal origin in the Member States. The present report summarises the monitoring data from 2008 in the 27 Member States.

The Commission publishes two reports which demonstrate the need for further progress in the European Union on the issue of anti microbial resistance. The first is a pan-European survey which reveals some worrying trends in public attitudes towards the use of antibiotics. The results indicate that citizens need more information on the correct use of antibiotics, even though 37% of respondents remember having received information on not overusing antibiotics in the last 12 months. The second document is a progress report, adopted today, on the 2002 Council Recommendation on the prudent use of antibiotics.

The aim of this project is to eliminate MRSA in pigs, or at least achieve a significant reduction in the level of colonisation, thus lowering or preventing the risk of human beings being infected. To achieve this, phage endolysins are over-produced in E. coli or Pichia pastoris. They are purified for use in the in vivo treatment of experimentally infected animals.

This is the second report in the UK compiled by the various agencies dealing with public health or the health of animals raised for food. It brings together data on antimicrobial consumption, significant pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibilities across the fields of human health, animal health and food.

EU animal welfare rules must be more rigorously enforced, with more inspections and effective penalties, said the Agriculture Committee. It nonetheless welcomed a reduction in harmful antibiotics in animal feed, further to an EU ban.

The use of antibiotics in livestock decreased by 2% in 2009 compared to the previous year, while at the same time the bovine, porcine and poultry populations increased by 2%, 1.3% and 0.2%, respectively. In 2008, the use of antibiotics had already decreased by 7% compared to 2007.

The Danish Food Minister, Eva Kjer Hansen, wants to introduce a ”yellow card”-scheme on vets and farmers who use too many antibiotics.

Resistance to antibiotics in animals in Danish herds may become a problem over time for the health of both animals and humans. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries has therefore funded DKK 11 million (corresponding 1,5 million euro) to two comprehensive research projects with the purpose to develope new ways of combating resistant bacteria in animals.

COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 37/2010 of 22 December 2009 on pharmacologically active substances and their classification regarding maximum residue limits in foodstuffs of animal origin.

The DFG has approved the establishment of 17 new Collaborative Research Centres as of 1 January 2010. This decision was made recently by the relevant Grants Committee in Bonn. The new centres will initially be funded for four years with a total of €132 million. In addition, 20 percent overhead funding for indirect costs will also be provided for each project. The new CRCs include the development of an antibiotic-free diet for swine.

MRSA spreads throughout the Dutch intensive livestock farming sectors. Among pig farms, 68.3% of 202 farms tested positive for MRSA.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has launched a simple and effective 8-point plan for the responsible use of antimicrobials in veterinary practice.