The European Parliament wants to end the practice of prescribing and dispensing antibiotics

The European Parliament in Strasbourg adopted a resolution to combat antibiotic resistance during its plenary session on December 11, 2012. While its regulatory or legislative impact is limited, MEPs nonetheless affirmed their vision of the veterinarian’s role in public health and antimicrobial resistance. [caption id="attachment_2606" align="alignright" width="232"] Anna Rosbach, Danish Member of the European Parliament[/caption]   It is stated clearly: “The right to prescribe antibiotics for animals should be restricted to veterinarians and kept separate from the right to sell these treatments in order to avoid creating an incentive to prescribe them. ” This non-binding resolution, drafted by Anna Rosbach (ECR, Denmark), was adopted by a vote of 588 in favor, 16 against, and 23 abstentions. In other words, the European Parliament’s stance on this issue is clear, on the eve of the debate launched by the French Ministry of Agriculture. This was a position that Christophe Buhot, president of the FVE , had feared during the National Veterinary Conference in Paris in late November. As part of internal discussions within the profession, everyone agreed that the Danish model fell far short of addressing the problem of antimicrobial resistance. This view was echoed by the minister himself, Stéphane Le Foll . However, the figures presented in Strasbourg leave no doubt as to the policymakers’ position: “Resistant bacteria cause some 400,000 infections and 25,000 deaths per year and represent an additional cost of at least 1.5 billion euros in healthcare and lost productivity. ” Several areas of focus are proposed.  

Changing behaviors

Communication and education are the two key priorities, for both healthcare professionals and consumers (patients, livestock farmers, etc.). A shift in mindset regarding usage is also emphasized: doctors, pharmacists, and veterinarians must quickly adjust their approaches, as must farmers. Furthermore, Parliament considers that sharing information among citizens—and not just among healthcare professionals and veterinarians—is essential for raising awareness and, consequently, improving prevention. The use of best-practice guidelines, tailored by species and disease, is recommended. In this area, all professionals are involved, in line with the “One Health” approach. Furthermore, Parliament calls for the Commission’s five-year strategic action plan against antimicrobial resistance to encompass all animals covered by the Union’s animal welfare strategy, including pets and those used in sports.  

Prioritizing Prevention

“To avoid the widespread use of antimicrobials, livestock farming, aquaculture, and medicine should focus on disease prevention rather than prophylactic use, by improving hygiene—particularly in sensitive environments such as hospitals and, more generally, in animal husbandry.”  While the primary goal of farmers is to keep their livestock healthy and productive through good agricultural practices (hygiene, adequate feed, proper husbandry, and appropriate animal management), animals remain susceptible to infections. It is therefore necessary to provide them with specific veterinary treatments and veterinary medicinal products to treat these infections. Furthermore, Parliament is proposing new measures to promote sustainable livestock farming systems . Based on good management practices, these systems optimize the efficient use of resources and limit farmers’ dependence on costly and unsustainable inputs that pose a threat to the environment and public health. As part of the “Europe 2020” strategy , “farmers could have access to smart, effective, and diverse tools to treat their animals, including for marginal uses and minor species, which currently face a severe shortage of veterinary medicinal products.” ” Intensive farming is in the Parliament’s crosshairs. It cannot be encouraged in the face of “sustainable food production systems (…) that are potentially less exposed to antimicrobial resistance.” Thus, the European Commission is being asked to reassess maximum stocking densities, as herd size poses an obstacle to treating individual animals or small groups of animals. [caption id="attachment_2610" align="aligncenter" width="379"] Anna Rosbach[/caption]  

Toward New Practices in Veterinary Medicine

Parliament disapproves of the routine use of antimicrobials for prophylactic treatments in livestock operations. It aims to limit the preventive use of these substances to cases that meet specific clinical needs. In the treatment of herds, the goal is to restrict the prescription and use of antibiotics to cases where a veterinarian has determined that there is a clear clinical—and, where applicable, epidemiological—justification for treating all animals. By placing the practising veterinarian at the center of disease prevention, the veterinarian’s expertise is strengthened. This should encourage the French government to consolidate the regional network of its health policy. This is all the more timely given that Parliament wishes to see the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) focus on its mission to monitor and analyze antimicrobial resistance among farm animals in the European Union. Finally, electronic record-keeping systems could be introduced to ensure the proper use of antibiotics on farms.  

Encouraging Research and Innovation

It is clear that innovation in the field of antibiotics has reached an impasse. That is why the Parliament is encouraging all Member States to further promote public-private partnerships (PPPs). It calls for intellectual property reform (transferable rights and extended patent terms) in this area to incentivize private companies to make long-term investments in R&D. Preventive treatments are also given significant attention. Vaccination remains the most popular and safest option at this time.  

Medicated feed: same challenge

While the Commission is being asked to strengthen the regulatory framework for veterinary medicinal products as a whole, medicated feed could be brought into line with drugs. The consequences? Stricter oversight of these products and verification by the authorities, in accordance with the regulatory criteria applicable to drugs. They would also be subject to a prescription requirement.