Loss of 3rd & 4th generation antibiotics to treat individual animals – dogs, cats, horses, zoo and farm animals
On August 20th an FVE political coordination group held a meeting concerning the motion for resolution drafted by the European Parliament ENVI committee. The meeting was attended by our UEVP board members Kenelm Lewis and Giovannibattista Guadagnini.
BACKGROUND:
On 13 July, the ENVI Committee of the EU Parliament adopted a motion to oppose the EU Commission delegated act on the criteria for the designation of antibiotics to be reserved for the treatment of certain infections in humans (i.e. antibiotics banned in all animals).
The delegated act details the criteria for the designation of antimicrobials to be reserved for humans based on the scientific advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), EFSA, OIE and WHO. The act was science-based and welcomed by all the organizations.
Unfortunately, throughout the motion, the ENVI MEPs opposed the act, objecting against criterion N. 3 (non-essential for animal health) and asking to put all the WHO Highest Priority Critical Important Antimicrobials (colistin, macrolides, fluoroquinolones and 3th and 4th gen cephalosporins) on the reserved list. The Committee also advise re-opening Regulation 2019/6, which was recently adopted after many years and following a careful consensus, to allow exceptional use of individual animals with reserved antimicrobials.
NEXT STEPS:
All MEPs need to vote in the week of 13 September on the motion. The vote requires an absolute majority (353 out of 705). Therefore FVE along with EPRUMA partners (animal health industry, feed industry, farmers, livestock producer associations) has continued the campaign to persuade MEPs to oppose the motion and adopt the delegated act in order to preserve the health and welfare of all the animals. The following actions has been taken:
- Political coordination group has been set up;
- Key MEPs per political group/country were identified;
- A list of examples of diseases per species which might become untreatable was set up;
- Social media cards were made in association with FECAVA;
- The “Myths and Facts” document was launched by EPRUMA (available this week);
- An Open Letter was created to be signed by as many organizations as possible and to send to MEPs – this will be shared this week
WHAT WE NEED TO DO:
- Please share and sign the following petitions:
- BPT petition in German
- UPV petition in French
- Polish veterinary chamber petition is also under preparation.
- Contact your MEPs and ask them to vote AGAINST this dangerous motion by using the social media cards available and all the relevant arguments;
Any reservation should be done in a science-based ‘One Health’ approach.
Animals deserve treatment too.
