Call for balance at launch of antimicrobial plan

Antimicrobial resistance was the focus of both politicians and farming leaders in Brussels yesterday at the launch of an action plan to tackle this growing problem for both humans and animals.

The plan includes steps to improve awareness of the appropriate use of antimicrobials as well as an increased focus on research, innovation and training.

Scottish MEP Alyn Smith welcomed the strategy saying that it was clear that overuse of antibiotics had led to the growth of microbial resistance. He stated that about 25,000 people a year now die from resistant bacteria “to say nothing of the problems faced by our farm animals”. He said he wanted to see more careful use of antimicrobials without ruling out their use altogether.

NFU Scotland was also at the EU headquarters to reassert the vital role that prophylactic use of antimicrobial medicines play on Scottish farms. Union president Nigel Miller said it was vital that science informed political developments to preventthe livestock industry might finding itself at the mercy of knee-jerk, needlessly prohibitive legislation.