Concern over Government plans to cut antibiotic use

The head of a body representing animal medicines manufacturers says that some recommendations in a Government commissioned report into tackling the threat of antimicrobial resistance may actually make matters worse.

The Review on Microbial Resistance (AMR) was commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron, following warnings that growing resistance to antibiotics posed a threat to human health.

The review has been being carried out under the chairmanship of economist Jim O’Neill, the former chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management. And it says that farmers need to reduce or cut the use of antibiotics.

Dawn Howard, chief executive of the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) told FarmingUK TV that the issue of antimicrobial resistance did need to be addressed.

But she said that some recommendations in the O’Neill report could drive antimicrobial resistance more quickly than ever.