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.
The antibiotics used to treat infected animals and livestock result in accumulation of the antibiotics in the products from that particular animal/livestock like eggs, meat and milk. A mandatory withdrawal period stipulated for that particular species must be followed during which no product from that animal be used for human consumption. If such products are consumed by humans, the product may contain excess antibiotic residue than the maximum permissible limits which result in unnecessary exposure of the human to the antibiotic with high risk of development of antibiotic resistance. Awareness among the farmers, manufacturers and consumers is of utmost importance.
The antibiotics used to treat infected animals and livestock result in accumulation of the antibiotics in the products from that particular animal/livestock like eggs, meat and milk. A mandatory withdrawal period stipulated for that particular species must be followed during which no product from that animal be used for human consumption. If such products are consumed by humans, the product may contain excess antibiotic residue than the maximum permissible limits which result in unnecessary exposure of the human to the antibiotic with high risk of development of antibiotic resistance. Awareness among the farmers, manufacturers and consumers is of utmost importance.
The non therapeutic use of antibiotics in feed premix or
regular feeding in poultry and animals used for meat, milk and egg production
has serious consequences on human beings. The same can result in accumulation
of antibiotics in humans and animals resulting in antibiotic resistance. In
view of this, the manufacturers have been advised and educated not to use
antibiotics for regular animal feeding.
The need of the hour is education of the farmers and other
manufacturers involved in production of animal products.
The details are available at http://www.cdsco.nic.in/writereaddata/Meneka%20Sanjay%20Gandhi.pdf
(Accessed on July 17. 2014)
