In 1999, the European Union (EU) implemented an antibiotic resistance monitoring program and a plan to phase out antibiotic use for the purposes of growth promotion by 2006.[109] The European Union banned the use of antibiotics as growth agents starting on 1 January 2006 with Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.[110] In Germany, 1,734 tons of antimicrobial agents were used for animals in 2011 compared with 800 tons for humans.[citation needed] Sweden banned their use in 1986 and Denmark started cutting down drastically in 1994, now using 60% less.[111] In the Netherlands, the use of antibiotics to treat diseases increased after the ban on its use for growth purposes in 2006.[112]