Joint action to combat antibiotic resistance

Date: 13/05/1999

By Simon Taylor

FARM ministers are set to agree new Union-wide measures to tackle the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics.

The move reflects growing concern among doctors about new 'superbugs' which cannot be eradicated with conventional medical treatments.

At a meeting next week, EU agriculture ministers are expected to approve proposals drawn up by the German presidency to increase monitoring of the use of antibiotics both on the farm and by doctors.

To allow experts to build up a picture of the problem of increased resistance across Europe, ministers will pledge to exchange any new information or new scientific research with other countries. Governments will also try to increase the awareness of the problem among professionals such as doctors, veterinarians and farmers, to keep the use of antibiotics to a minimum.

Feeding farm animals with antibiotics to speed up growth has been identified as a possible cause of the growing immunity to antibacterial products in humans. US medical experts warned last year that 90% of all strains of the most common bacteria which cause infection in humans are resistant to penicillin. Cases of resistance to the crucial drug vancomycin are also on the increase.

One national official described the German initiative as a "real step forward" because it would be the first time that EU governments had agreed to coordinate their efforts to tackle a public health problem.

Herman Valgaeren, secretary-general of FEFANA, the European animal feed association which represents the biggest makers of the additives, said the industry would not have any major problems with the German proposals.

He pointed out that companies were already cooperating on surveillance studies to see whether cases of antibiotic resistance were related to their use in animal feed.

For the industry, the most important development will be a report by the EU's Scientific Steering Committee which is due to be published in the next couple of weeks. This study will assess the links between the supply of antibiotics as growth promoters and their use to treat sick animals and humans.

Some sections of industry are concerned that the report will recommend a wider ban on the use of certain products following the EU's recent decision to outlaw five feed additives because of fears about health risks. Industry sources estimate that new restrictions could result in Europe's major pharmaceuticals companies losing up to 15% of their total sales of antibiotics.

Valgaeren added, however, that the industry would not have much to fear if the report was scientifically based, because it would simply recommend carrying out new studies to assess the risk to humans from the veterinary use of antibiotics. There is concern, however, that it could be seized on by those in favour of tougher action to call for new product bans.