Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about the use of antibiotics in farming.
The sale of antibiotics for use in livestock has more than halved since 2014 to the lowest ever level. The Government is committed to building on these record reductions, as outlined in the National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance which you can read here: UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
My ministerial colleagues and I would like to see a sustainable reduction of antibiotic use in animals through a combination of approaches, including improved biosecurity, stockmanship and good farming practices, disease prevention (including vaccination) and use of diagnostics. I understand that the Government plans to pay farmers through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to tackle anti-microbial resistance.
I am aware that Ministers do not support routine preventative use of antibiotics in animals. Antibiotics should not compensate for poor husbandry practices and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will continue to look into strengthening legislation in this area. Defra is reviewing the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 and will set out proposed changes as part of a public consultation in due course.
The Environment Agency (EA) is working with the UK Health Security Agency and the Food Standards Agency to improve our understanding of the extent and risks of antimicrobial resistance in our surface waters under the “PATH-SAFE” project. This includes where the source of resistance is from agricultural activities. £2 million has been received in funding for this work, which aims to identify the levels of antimicrobials in water that may contribute to this resistance. This will allow the EA to advise the Government and farmers on how to avoid environmental risks of antimicrobial resistance.
The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway maps out how farmers and the Government will work together to improve continually the health and welfare of farmed animals, supported by the best science and evidence. The Government has committed to launching four programmes within the Pathway which you can read here: Animal Health and Welfare Pathway - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Annual Health and Welfare Review offers funding for a visit by a vet-led team to carry out a yearly on-farm review of animal health and welfare. This includes carrying out diagnostic testing, reviewing biosecurity and the use of medicines, providing bespoke advice on actions to improve the health and welfare. Testing of the first Annual Health and Welfare Reviews started in September and will be open to all eligible farmers. Farmers will also be able to apply for financial support to prevent and reduce endemic diseases and conditions, building on the initial advice given in the Review.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
