India bans antibiotics in animal feed to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), protecting public health by reducing the risk of drug-resistant infections.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) decision to ban the use of some antibiotics in animal feed products will help curb the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), according to a new report. () In October, the FSSAI banned the use of some antibiotics used in the production of meat, meat products, milk, dairy products, poultry, eggs and aquaculture. Banning the use of antibiotics will improve the quality of livestock farming in India.
India tightens regulations on antibiotic use in livestock
This regulatory decision is a crucial measure to safeguard public health and curb the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which makes certain bacterial infections increasingly difficult to treat with standard medications among consumers, GlobalData said, a leading data and analytics company. “Being one of the leading producers and exporters of milk, eggs, fish and poultry, India needs to regulate the use of antibiotics during animal husbandry and production to sustain itself in the global market,” said Susmitha Bynagari, consumer analyst. . at GlobalData.
In addition, the country needs to maintain constant control over the use of antibiotics in animal production to maintain the quality of the products that are exported. “This ban on the use of antibiotics in meat and poultry feed also applies to countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore,” Bynagari added.
Indian consumers also prefer healthy products, which is reinforced by a recent GlobalData survey, where 73 percent of Indian respondents said that wellness always or often influences their food and beverage purchases. This change in consumer behavior is driving demand for more sustainable and safe food products, according to the report.
“To effectively address the issue of AMR, the FSSAI must ensure that the ban on antibiotic use in animal production is strictly implemented across the country,” said Francis Gabriel Godad, Consumer Business Development Manager, GlobalData. A grassroots approach will be critical to achieving long-term success in reducing antibiotic use in agriculture and ultimately protecting public health, he added.
Reference:
- FSSAI bans antibiotics in animal feed products to help curb rise in antimicrobial resistance among consumers, says GlobalData – (https://www.globaldata.com/media/consumer/fssai-ban-antibiotics-animal-food-products-help-curb-amr-rise-among-consumers-says-globaldata/)
Source-IANS
