Use of antibiotics in poultry and livestock to be reduced

Irregularities in the use of antibiotics in poultry and livestock in China will be strictly monitored to reduce drug resistance, according to a national plan released by the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday.

Authorities will push for a reduction in the use of antibiotics for poultry and livestock by 2020. Antibiotics for both human and animal use, and antibiotics that can easily cause cross-drug resistance will be gradually banned in China, according to the plan on controlling animal-sourced drug resistance.

Authorities will also take measures to research, develop and promote more than 100 kinds of new drugs for animal use that are safe and highly effective, and more than 100 kinds of high-risk drugs for animal use will be banned, the plan said.

By 2020, more than 97 percent of poultry, livestock and aquatic products in the domestic markets are expected to pass tests for antibiotics residue, the plan said.

Authorities will intensify supervision in the inspection and approval of new antibiotics for animal use, and further regulate drug application by veterinarians. Authorities will also establish eight national labs across China to improve the monitoring of drug resistance caused by the use of animal antibiotics, the plan said.

Agricultural authorities will also intensify communications and cooperation with international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to control the spread of drug-resistant bacteria among countries, it said.

China is a major producer and user of antibiotics for animals. Bacteria drug-resistance is becoming increasingly serious in China, forcing the use of more drugs in the poultry and livestock industry, which brings serious threats to public health, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.