The Veterinary Medicines Directorate regulates the use of medicines – including antibiotics – in farm animals, and publishes sales data for antimicrobials annually.
Latest available indications for the relative use of antibiotics in animals and humans in the UK is via the One Health Report, indicating around 64% of antibiotics are used in humans, 3.5% in companion animals, 26% in farm animals, and a further 10% split between farm and companion animals.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) contributed to the World Veterinary Association policy statement on the responsible use of antimicrobials in November 2015.
In November 2015, the BVA responded to the All-party Parliamentary Group for Antibiotics report on ‘Non-human use of antibiotics’, expressing concern about un-evidenced recommendations that specific classes of antibiotics be withdrawn from veterinary use.
