Flemish Information Center on Agriculture and Horticulture – Europe Fights Antibiotic Resistance



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The European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) recently warned that bacteria in humans, food and animals remain resistant to the most commonly used antimicrobial agents. The center also reported that multi-resistant salmonella bacteria were still spreading all over Europe. To combat antimicrobial resistance, the European Parliament has adopted a package of measures. This gives the European Commission the power to choose antimicrobial agents to be reserved for the sole treatment of people

"Antibiotics are often used excessively, but too often preventatively, to prevent the occurrence of diseases in difficult conditions for animals to grow faster, "said MEP Hilde Vautmans (Open Vld). "It's not only unhealthy, it's also dangerous because it makes animals and humans less resistant to certain pathogens. The new legislative rules agreed by Parliament will limit the use of antibiotics to situations where they are actually needed and administered under the approval of a veterinarian. "

Bart Staes, MEP from Green, is also satisfied." We are pleased to see that our long struggle to tackle the contribution of the agricultural sector to bacterial resistance is finally paying off. We know that Belgium is at the forefront of human consumption of antibiotics. This is a problem in itself, but beyond the great human use, the misuse and misuse of antibiotics in livestock is also a major part of the problem. This is why a ban on the use (preventive) of human antibiotics in veterinary medicine is a necessary first step. "

In addition, Europe also wants to stimulate research on new antimicrobial substances, so that new regulations provide for longer periods of protection for technical documentation related to" This is a big step in before for public health, "says Françoise Grossetête, Member of the European Parliament of the European People's Party," The use of veterinary drugs has a direct impact on our environment and our food. we can reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock farms, an important source of resistance that is then transferred to humans. "

Source : personal relationships

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