NOAH Response to House of Lords' Report on Antibiotics Resistance

The National Office of Animal Health welcomes the House of Lords' report on antibiotic resistance. The report 'Resistance to Antibiotics' published today calls for prudent use of antibiotics in human and animal health to ensure they remain effective in the future.

The House of Lords Select Committee inquiry followed increasing concern about the threat to human health from resistance to antibiotics. Animal health use of antibiotics is one small part of a very large and complex picture.

"Antibiotics are a precious resource and vital for the treatment and prevention of disease in humans and animals," said NOAH director Roger Cook. "NOAH fully endorses the Select Committee's view that antibiotics require prudent medical and veterinary use. This is well appreciated by the animal health industry. NOAH, on behalf of its members, has taken a number of steps to initiate and support schemes for responsible use of all animal medicines including antibiotics. It is important to note that only a small part of the Committee's recommendations are directed at animal medicines."

"Indeed, as Committee chairman Lord Soulsby said, this recommendation is 'pushing at an open door' for animal medicines. There is already a lot of activity involving animal health companies and the veterinary profession promoting and refining Codes of Practice on the use of antibiotics. These will build on a European-wide Code of Practice introduced by the animal health industry in 1996."

NOAH endorses the report's conclusion that veterinary antibiotics must remain effective and welcomes the recognition placed by the report on the value of these medicines to animal health and welfare.

NOAH also welcomes the Committee's recognition of the role played by antibiotic growth promoters in livestock production. However it feels the Committee's call for a phasing out of some of these products is premature. A European scientific review of growth promoters is already underway and an EU Commission antibiotic sensitivity surveillance scheme is due to be completed by the end of 1999.

Roger Cook said: "There must be no knee-jerk reaction to what is a very complex issue. Progress will only come through close co-operation and considered scientific debate between all parties."

23 April 1998

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Roger Cook or Alison Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)181 367 3131
2. The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent the UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal health products. The association now represents 53 companies which in 1997 accounted for around 95% of the £379 million UK animal health market, with additional valuable exports.
3. The House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology produced the Report 'Resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents' following an Inquiry. It is published on 23 April.
4. NOAH submitted evidence to the inquiry: copies of the NOAH evidence are available on request.
5. NOAH will be discussing its response in more detail at its annual press conference at 11.30am on 24 April at the Farmers Club, London SW1. Telephone for more details.