New Zealand Witnesses a 23% Drop in Veterinary Sales in 2022
Source: The DairyNews
The total sales of veterinary and horticultural antibiotics in New Zealand have experienced a significant decline for the fifth consecutive year, plummeting by 23% in 2022. This noteworthy decrease is a key revelation from the recently released '2022 Antibiotic Agricultural Compound Sales Analysis' by New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS).
The report serves as a comprehensive overview of the annual sales trends of antibiotics in the veterinary and horticultural sectors, aligning with the national action plan aimed at combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Vincent Arbuckle, Deputy Director-General of NZFS, emphasizes the significance of this decline in antibiotic sales, especially in light of the World Health Organization's recognition of AMR as a top global health threat. He notes that antibiotics, crucial for the well-being of humans, animals, and plants, must be used judiciously to prevent the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Arbuckle highlights a crucial finding that among the 16 classes of antibiotics monitored by NZFS, five are deemed critically important for human health, serving as the last line of defense in animal infections. The sales of these critical antibiotics dropped by 8% in 2022. In 2017, 8952kg of antibiotics critically important to human health were sold.
The collective efforts of the industry and NZFS are attributed to the ongoing reduction in antibiotic use. The collaborative vigilance of veterinarians, farmers, and other stakeholders, coupled with monitoring and support initiatives, has proven effective in minimizing the incidence of AMR. Arbuckle underscores the continuous review of regulatory oversight for antibiotics used in plants and animals, with potential tightening of controls leading to further reductions in antibiotic usage. This comprehensive initiative spans a five-year timeframe and involves the review of hundreds of antibiotic products.
The New Zealand Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan, initiated in 2017, underscores the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health, New Zealand Food Safety, and representatives from human health, animal health, and agriculture sectors. The plan envisions the responsible management of antimicrobials as a shared resource to maintain efficacy in treating infections in humans, animals, and plants. An upcoming update to the action plan is anticipated to be released next year.
Vincent Arbuckle, Deputy Director-General of NZFS, emphasizes the significance of this decline in antibiotic sales, especially in light of the World Health Organization's recognition of AMR as a top global health threat. He notes that antibiotics, crucial for the well-being of humans, animals, and plants, must be used judiciously to prevent the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Arbuckle highlights a crucial finding that among the 16 classes of antibiotics monitored by NZFS, five are deemed critically important for human health, serving as the last line of defense in animal infections. The sales of these critical antibiotics dropped by 8% in 2022. In 2017, 8952kg of antibiotics critically important to human health were sold.
The collective efforts of the industry and NZFS are attributed to the ongoing reduction in antibiotic use. The collaborative vigilance of veterinarians, farmers, and other stakeholders, coupled with monitoring and support initiatives, has proven effective in minimizing the incidence of AMR. Arbuckle underscores the continuous review of regulatory oversight for antibiotics used in plants and animals, with potential tightening of controls leading to further reductions in antibiotic usage. This comprehensive initiative spans a five-year timeframe and involves the review of hundreds of antibiotic products.
The New Zealand Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan, initiated in 2017, underscores the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health, New Zealand Food Safety, and representatives from human health, animal health, and agriculture sectors. The plan envisions the responsible management of antimicrobials as a shared resource to maintain efficacy in treating infections in humans, animals, and plants. An upcoming update to the action plan is anticipated to be released next year.
