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AgVetLink: Number 65, December 2007

Antimicrobial Resistance Progress Report

Background

In 2004 the Expert Panel on Antimicrobial Resistance was set up to review New Zealand’s use of antibiotics in animals and horticulture. The panel’s report, released in July 2005, found that New Zealand’s levels of antibiotic resistance compared well to those internationally. The panel made several recommendations to make sure that the issue continued to be monitored and to help reduce the likelihood of antimicrobial resistance in people from products used on animals. Of the 30 recommendations the panel made, a number were identified as actions to be delivered by NZFSA.

What’s happening now?

NZFSA has been working on these actions for the past year. Key developments include the following.

• The reassessment of veterinary medicines containing aminoglycoside group of compounds has been completed and registrants will have two years to update their registrations. The one horticultural product containing streptomycin is currently being reviewed, and an update is expected by the middle of 2008.

• An expert group to provide guidance on the use of antimicrobials is being developed. It is hoped the group will be up and running by the middle of 2008.

• The updating of the procedure for collecting annual antimicrobial sale statistics is well under way and should be in place for the next round in 2008.

• NZFSA has set up a working group to look at options for an antimicrobial surveillance programme. The group will submit its findings to the NZFSA board for consideration before the end of this year.

As the project develops, the ACVM Group will continue to provide updates in AgVetLink and on the antimicrobial resistance page of the NZFSA website (www.nzfsa.govt.nz/acvm/subject/antibiotic-resistance).