Objection to antibiotic use in animals rejected

The European Parliament has rejected the proposal in which the Green Group had called for the complete ban of certain antibiotics in animals. This does not alter the fact that the European Commission is actively considering how the use of antibiotics at European level can be reduced and, above all, harmonized.

No stricter ban on antibiotics

The Greens had objected to the European Commission's proposal that established a number of criteria for the use of antibiotics in animals. They campaigned for a much stricter ban on antimicrobials in animals. Such a stricter ban could have resulted in pets dying because they could no longer be treated because vets would only be able to use 20 percent of the existing antibiotic range. So it won't come to that.

Fake news

Another story could be noted with the green fraction. They believe that the proposal has fallen victim to fake news. The proposal is not about pets, but about the massive use of antibiotics in the meat industry. Individual use was still allowed in the Greens' proposal. “If we don't restrict the use of antibiotics in animals now, there will soon be no antibiotics left that work for humans or pets,” the green group argued.

Responsible use of antibiotics

Now that the objection has been rejected, the Commission's proposal can enter into force. This does not give a clear-cut guide to antibiotic use in animals, on the contrary. The goal is to halve the sale of antibiotics for farm animals by 2030 and to use them with care. The reduction and harmonization of antibiotic use at European level will ultimately benefit the health of humans and animals.

Source: Het Nieuwsblad