Published 15/09/2014

The European Commission has published new proposals on regulating farm antibiotic use which ignore advice to phase out routine preventative use from scientists and the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics.

Alison Craig, Campaign Manager for the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics, which we are a founding member of, said “The European Commission and the British government have both stated they don’t support the routine preventative use of antibiotics on farms, but both still back legislation which makes it legal.

In the UK, over 85% of antibiotics used on farms are used for treating groups of animals, mainly pigs and poultry. Many antibiotics can be added legally to the feed or water of groups of healthy animals. The government has so far refused to take any action against routine preventative use, even though it says that it does “not support the routine, prophylactic use of antibiotics in animal health.”

Alison continued “Governments and MEPs who are serious about avoiding the ‘apocalyptic scenario’ that the Chief Medical Officer has been describing, whereby people in the future may die from routine infections because of antibiotic resistance, must ensure that a ban on all routine use of antibiotics in farming is added to the Commission’s proposals”.

Take action

The Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics has launched a petition with 38 Degrees which more than 29,000 people have signed. Please sign and share the petition if you think routine preventative use of antibiotics on farm must be stopped.