European farms using record levels of antibiotics
Strong antibiotics, used in the treatment of potentially fatal human infections, are being used on European farms in record levels, according to a report from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EMA data shows that although sales of antibiotics for use on animals fell between 2% and 12% from the previous year in 2014, the use of “critically important” antibiotics such as colistin rose. The report follows recent revelations about the presence of MRSA in meat both imported into and produced within the UK.

ESVAC 2021 report The latest ESVAC report, published in November 2022, shows that sales of antimicrobials for use in food-producing animals in Europe fell considerably since 2011. Overall, most participating countries have been successful in reducing the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals. The latest results show the potential in other countries as well. Sales of veterinary antimicrobial agents in 31 European countries in 2021 For the 25 countries providing sales data continuously between 2011 and 2021, sales fell by 47% over this period. Sales have fallen particularly sharply for antimicrobials in AMEG Category B, also classified by the World Health Organization as critically important in human medicine: ANTIMICROBIAL CLASSES REDUCTION IN TOTAL SALES SINCE 2011 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins By 38% Polymyxins By 80% Fluoroquinolones By 14% Other quinolones By 83% Since 2011, sales decreased in 22 countries by a range between 5% and 65%. However, 1 country saw only a minor reduction in sales while 2 countries saw sales increase by more than 5%. The EU Farm to Fork strategy aims to bring a 50% reduction in total sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and aquaculture by 2030 compared with 2018 figures. By 2021, EU Member States had already achieved around one third of this overall reduction target, as shown in the enclosed visual. The metrics featured for the years 2018 (118,3), 2021 (96,6) and 2030 (59,2) show sales in miligram of active substance sold by population correction unit (mg / PCU). For more information, see Population correction unit.