The use of antibiotics in livestock farming and animal diseases

If bacteria repeatedly come into contact with antibiotics, they may become insensitive to them. In other words: bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. Over the past ten years the use of antibiotics in livestock farming has grown dramatically. Meanwhile, more and more cows, pigs and chicken were infected by resistant bacteria. This development poses a risk to public health, as the result may be that bacterial infections in humans become more and more difficult to treat.

The Health Council of the Netherlands

The Health Council of the Netherlands is an independent scientific advisory body. Its task is to provide the Dutch government and Parliament with advice in the field of public health. In April 2010 the then minister of Health, Welfare and Sport asked the Health Council for advice on the public health risks of antibiotics use in livestock production. The Health Council examined which forms of bacteria resistance should be given top priority, which part the livestock farming sector plays in the resistance problems, how resistant bacteria pass on to humans and how such infection can be prevented.

Spread

The spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a global issue. There is still much uncertainty about it. Yet, according to the Health Council the growing resistance to antibiotics is likely to be caused, to a large extent, by the use of antibiotics in the animal food production sector. In exceptional cases a veterinary surgeon is allowed to administer medicines that are not registered for the disease in question. The Health Council advises to discourage veterinary surgeons from using (new) antibiotics, intended for humans, in veterinary medicine. The report issued by the Health Council is a reason for the Cabinet to tighten its policy on the use of antibiotics.

State control

The Cabinet wants to reduce the use of specific categories of antibiotics in livestock farming. The emphasis is on self-regulation and firm state control. Halfway through 2011 the use of antibiotics had fallen by 32% as compared to 2009. The Cabinet would like to make further arrangements with the various livestock farming sectors and veterinary surgeons. If the sector fails to meet the set targets, the government will take measures. That is how the Cabinet intends to provide clarity to all parties involved and to prevent non-commitment.

Additional measures

Furthermore, the Cabinet has announced it will enforce more strictly the ban on the use of certain antibiotics, especially in the poultry sector. Within the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (nVWA) the staff capacity necessary to do so has been made available. Livestock farmers who fail to comply with the advice from the veterinary surgeon will be called to account. The animal health plan is a key instrument to ensure that livestock farmers will take preventive animal health measures, thus reducing the need to administer antibiotics. The Cabinet's objective is a sustainable livestock farming sector, where systematic and abundant use of antibiotics will have become unnecessary.

Antibiotics in food animal production and resistant bacteria in humans - report by the Health Council of the Netherlands

Substantial decline in use of antibiotics in livestock farming - Source: Agricultural Economics Research Institute (LEI)

Action needed to prevent 'superbugs' - Source: BBC website