Antibiotics for fattening livestock banned in Cyprus

CYPRUS - All antibiotics added to animal feed for fattening purposes have been banned in Cyprus as of January 1 with the implementation of a law that has taken effect in all 25 EU member states.

The ban, which is the culmination of a larger phase-out process, is part of the European Commission’s effort to respond to the emergence of bacteria and other microbes resistant to antibiotics that are used to treat human and animal infections.

The Commission claims that the resistant strains have emerged because antibiotics have been overused and exploited. The EU has already banned antibiotics used in human medicine as animal feed supplements.

Before January 1, four antibiotics were still permitted as feed additives to help fatten livestock.

The four substances, which can no longer be used or marketed in the EU as feed additives, are:

Salinomycin sodium—used for piglets and finishing pigs

Avilamycin—used for young pigs, finishing pigs, chickens and turkeys

Flavophospholipol—used for rabbits, laying hens, market chickens, turkeys, pigs, calves and cattle.

Monensin sodium—used for market cattle

Veterinary Services Director George Neophytou told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that livestock farmers in Cyprus were informed as of June 2004 that these final four substances would no longer be permitted for fattening purposes.

Neophytou emphasised, however, that these antibiotics would not be removed from the shelves since they also serve as therapeutic drugs.

Source: Cyprus Mail