Chickens And Antibiotics – The facts - NEW ZEALAND - "We do not use the antibiotic named by Greens MP Sue Kedgley," says Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand Executive Director, Michael Brooks. Mr Brooks says that Ms Kedgley is "seriously off the mark" when it comes to making alarmist statements about antibiotics being fed to farm animals.

Leading avian veterinarians confirm that the Macrolide antibiotic, Erythromycin is not fed to New Zealand poultry. Whilst Ms Kedgley cites "indiscriminate" feeding of antibiotics to poultry Mr Brooks says it is quite simply not true. This is due to the strict controls put in place by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997.

Mr Brooks feels that Ms Kedgley’s statement that has somehow grown out of the Pharmac "Wise Use of Antibiotics Campaign" is simply an attempt to redirect the news to her own agenda and make further attacks on a sector of the New Zealand farming industry that complies with all aspects of food safety legislation including antibiotic usage for the welfare of poultry.

Source: Poultry Industry of NZ - 30th May 2005