Ban On Non-Therapeutic Usage Of Antibiotics In Farm Animals

Citing both animal welfare and human health concerns, Humane Society International urged the government to impose a ban on the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in farm animals.The National Policy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance, released last month, similarly expressed concerns over the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in farm animals, particularly poultry, and called for an intersectoral coordination committee to develop regulations on the use of antimicrobials in animals, and to create labeling requirements for animal source foods produced with antibiotics. 

Currently there are no regulatory provisions in the country regarding the use of antibiotics in farm animals.“We hope that the Ministry of Health recognizes the importance of these recommendations and imposes a ban on the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in farm animals” said N.G. Jayasimha, manager of HSI’s factory farming campaign in India. “It is imperative that intersectoral coordination committee takes action to address the routine and dangerous use of antibiotics on India’s factory farms.