The National Office of Animal Health has issued a statement criticising the All Party Parliamentary Group on Antibiotics report: "Non-human uses of antibiotics: time to restrict their use?”, saying it fails to recognise the steps that have already been taken by vets and farmers to prevent disease and minimise antibiotic use on farms where possible.  

NOAH chief executive Dawn Howard said: "NOAH fully supports the need for responsible prescribing, by both the veterinary and medical professions.

"On the veterinary side, NOAH has been very actively involved with responsible use initiatives, such as the RUMA Alliance, which publishes guidelines supporting responsible use and has produced an action plan on livestock antibiotic resistance to implement Government strategy.“

NOAH highlights two particular aspects of the report. Firstly that it is critical of the treatment of groups of animals through medicated feed and water. 

Dawn said: "There are many animal-friendly reasons why medicines can be prescribed in this way by a veterinary surgeon.

"For groups of animals, fish or birds there is less stress than injection or individual oral dosing. Where treatment is needed, the vet supplies a prescription for treatment through medicated feed or through the water, depending on the product being used. The whole process is highly regulated through European and national legislation."

The report also suggests certain classes of antibiotics should be reserved for humans. NOAH says it believes that veterinary surgeons need to retain the full range of currently licensed antibiotics in order to be able to treat the range of conditions that affect animals, and if they are restricted, animal welfare will undoubtedly suffer.

NOAH adds that removal of some classes from the veterinary sector would place undue selective pressure on the remaining classes which could increase resistance to those classes – having the opposite effect to what the committee probably intends.

Dawn said: “NOAH is disappointed not to have been consulted in advance of the publication of the report. We believe that responsible use of veterinary antibiotics is the best way to help preserve these precious medicines for us all, without compromising the health and welfare of our animals.”

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