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Danish farmers used 2.1% less antibiotics in their production of animals during 2010, which has resulted in the first fall in antibiotic usage in a decade. This is revealed in the annual DANMAP report on the use of antibiotics in animals and humans.
Use of antibiotics by Danish pig, cattle and poultry farmers fell by 2.1% in 2010, with the trend appearing to continue into 2011. As far as the pig industry is concerned, the results suggest that Denmark’s antibiotic usage remains significantly lower than most other major pig producing countries.
The voluntary ban on the use of the critically important antibiotics, cephalosporins, has been a particularly significant factor in the halt to the prevalence of resistant bacteria. In pigs, the 49% decline is due to the voluntary ban introduced last summer.
EFSA recommends Danish model
In August, the Danish model for reducing antibiotic consumption was highlighted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as a particular example for other EU countries to follow. In fact, the EFSA went so far as to recommend that other EU countries implement the Danish regulations.
When Denmark takes over the EU presidency on 1 January 2012, the aim will be to introduce a common EU surveillance programme for the use of antibiotic medicines and the measurement of levels of antimicrobial resistance.
Agriculture and food
http://www.agricultureandfood.co.uk
