Prudent use of antibiotics in the animal sector Lessons from Sweden Jenny Lundstrom, DVM, PhD

Click to add title Sales of veterinary antibiotics, mg/PCU Sweden,

Improve animal health Good animal husbandry Biosecurity Internal External Healthy animals Prudent use

What has Sweden done? Cooperation: farmers, veterinarians and governmental bodies. The Swedish Veterinary Association and the Federation of Swedish Farmers – key players! Education of both veterinarians and farmers to reach prudent use and to motivate for corrective measures in the production. Improved animal health through improved hygiene and management routines within the farms, including control measures when trading in live animals. Veterinary guidelines on prudent use, where mass medication with antibiotics only is a temporary solution used for a short period when corrective measures are introduced.

Governmental issues Mandatory pre-evaluation of farm building plans. Voluntary and mandatory disease control programs which also have an economic incentive for the farmer, has lead to eradication of certain diseases and improved biosecurity. Antibiotics are only available by veterinary prescription. There is no economic incitement for veterinarians to hand out or sell antibiotics. Surveillance of antibiotic sales and antibiotic resistance.

Healthy animals are wealthy animals! InterPig 2015

Challenge: Different standards on an internal market Improvments are beneficial in the long term – but costly in the short term EU internal market – there will be low level products to a lower price for the consumer Responsibility of the market – low price or working antibiotics? Dialogue through the whole food chain: – Farmers, FBO, consumers and governmental bodies Awareness raising -> consumer pressure

Swedish Food Retailers Federation All major retailers are members of the federation.

Criteria for own branded products Antibiotics should not be used as a growth promotor Antibiotics is only allowed after prescription from a veterinary Ample documentation of all use of antibiotics, including via feed and water, should be performed. Responsible veterinary should frequently review and sign this documentation. If antibiotics to all animals, of a certain age, are used regularly, the motives for this should be documented, an investigation should be performed of a veterinary and a program for measures that deal with the health problems should be developed and implemented.

A WORLD FREE FROM FEAR OF UNTREATABLE INFECTIONS Thank you for listening!