Sunday, July 20, 2014

Government of India, issues a notice on Irrational use of antibiotics in animal/livestock

Contributed by  Akilesh. R and Ashok J. Tamhankar 
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO),  Government of India, issues a  notice on Irrational use of antibiotics in animal/livestock – A source of spread of antibiotic resistance in humans!
While antibiotic use and abuse in humans has been given due notice in recent times, the other potential source of spread of antibiotic resistance to humans is through animal products which has not been given due regard. Besides therapy antibiotics are used in animals particularly in poultry farming as growth promoters. The use in animals is also a precursor of antibiotic resistance; both through the animal food products as well as the faeces that go into the environment, as nearly 50 % of antibiotics given to animals are excreted within 24 hours.  While in many countries use of antibiotics is banned as growth promoters, it is not so in India. Government of India has now started to take action on this issue. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO),  Government of India has issued notice in this regard to Drug controllers of all states and union territories in June 2014. The circular in this context generally says the following.