Drug problem tackled by DEFRA - UK - The Government today published its strategy for developing a comprehensive surveillance programme for antimicrobial resistance in animals for England and Wales.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance as a serious problem in human medicine has led to increasing concern about the use of antibiotics in human medicine, veterinary medicine, animal production, agriculture and horticulture.

Welcoming the publication, Animal Health and Welfare Minister, Ben Bradshaw, said:

"The publication of this strategy underlines the importance that the Government places on obtaining all of the information necessary to enable us effectively to tackle the development of antimicrobial resistance."

The AMR surveillance strategy outlines a programme of work that will further the Government's knowledge about mechanisms and transfer of antimicrobial resistance, detecting emergence and spread of resistant clones, and outlining requirements for further research. This programme addresses issues identified by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Food (ACMSF) in its 1999 report on antimicrobial resistance.

To view the report, please click here (PDF Format)

Source: Defra - 11th May 2004