2001 animal antimicrobial figures show care for animal health

NOAH has welcomed the publication by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate of the 2001 figures for antimicrobial use in the UK. Figures show use has remained broadly steady over the past four years over which data has been collected, with the following highlights: 

• sales of therapeutic antibiotics decreased slightly from 462 tonnes in 2000 to 459 tonnes in 2001; 
• there were 43 tonnes of antimicrobial growth promoters sold in 2001, compared with 46 tonnes in 1998 (the last year for which reliable figures are available); 
• 242 tonnes of coccidiostats were sold in 2001, an increase from the 216 tonnes sold in 2000; and 
• sales of therapeutic antiprotozoals fell in 2001 for the third year, to 25 tonnes. 

"These figures show that antibiotics continue to be used responsibly by the veterinary profession and livestock farmers", commented NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley. "The animal health problems faced by the UK livestock industry in 2001, as cited by the VMD, such as the new pig diseases PDNS and PMWS and the inevitable disease problems as a consequence of the phase-out of growth promoters, showed farmers still to be caring for their animals. This was remarkable in the midst of the devastation of Foot and Mouth Disease, when many animals remained on farm for much longer than they normally would, with inevitable problems of bacterial infection."

"Everyone in the food chain acknowledges the need to use antibiotics responsibly," added Mr Sketchley. This is still true even though the independent expert Veterinary Products Committee report, published in February 2003, has concurred with the long-held view of many - 'given the available evidence, treatment failure in human medicine is more likely to arise from sub-optimal antimicrobial use in humans.' But responsible use does not equate to no use - as the VPC itself said: 'Antimicrobials are essential drugs for the treatment and prevention of disease. They help reduce animal suffering and contribute to the production of healthy food'.

16 April 2003

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Phil Sketchley or Alison Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH website.

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 has 36 corporate members and 13 associate members. In 2001 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the £359 million UK animal health market, with additional valuable exports.

3. The VMD paper on sales of antimicrobial products in 2001 can be obtained free of charge from NOAH's website or Dr Kay Goodyear at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3LS, telephone 01932 338409, fax 01932 336618, e-mail: k.goodyear@vmd.defra.gsi.gov.uk. 

4. The Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) was established in 1970 under Section 4 of the Medicines Act 1968 with the following Terms of Reference - " To give advice with respect to safety, quality and efficacy in relation to the veterinary use of any substance or article (not being an instrument, apparatus or appliance) to which any provision of the Medicines Act is applicable. " To promote the collection of information relating to suspected adverse reactions for the purpose of enabling such advice to be given. 

5. The VPC report is available on the NOAH website.