§ 78. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce regulations to restrict the use of antibiotics in stock rearing until further research has been undertaken into the effects of such procedures on human health.
§ Mr. John MackieNo. This is not necessary; the use of antibiotics is subject to control under the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1956.
§ Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the findings of the Scientific Advisory Panel investigating the problem of multiple drug resistance caused by the use of drugs and antibiotics in animal husbandry; what regulations he intends to introduce; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. John MackieOur Scientific Advisory Panel has considered the possible indirect effect of using antibiotics in agriculture, including resistance of micro-organisms to these substances. The Panel has advised that antibiotic resistance has always existed and it is one of the reasons why a wide range of antibiotics has been needed to control infections. Antibotic resistance may become a problem if it interferes with the use of antibiotics in therapy.
2. The Panel, while not suggesting any undue restrictions on the use of antibiotics in agriculture, considered that more information should be obtained and that the effectiveness of present control measures should be examined if the use of antibiotics in agriculture were creating or would be likely to create potentially serious problems. In particular, the Panel recommended that the fullest possible collaboration between the appropriate veterinary and medical authorities should be further encouraged to facilitate establishment of the facts about the possible links between micro-organisms isolated from animal or human subjects with special reference to antibiotic resistance.
3. This last recommendation is in line with a recommendation made by a Joint Committee of the Agricultural and Medical Research Councils which considered the use of antibiotics in animal feeding-stuffs. The Joint Committee has recommended that an appropriate body should consider the evidence about the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, and its implications in the field of public health. This recommendation has been accepted in principle and will be discussed with the other Departments concerned but such discussions have had to be delayed during the current outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
4. The recommendations of our Scientific Advisory Panel will be brought to the attention of the body to be set up to examine the evidence about the use of antibiotics.
5. The use of antibiotics is subject to control under the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1956. In general they can be used for animals only on the prescription of veterinary surgeons, but regulations permit three specified antibiotics to be used 340W at very low level as additives in the feed of pigs and poultry only. Antibiotics not scheduled under the Therapeutic Substances Act but for direct sale to farmers are subject to notification under the voluntary Veterinary Products Safety Precautions Scheme.
6. It would be premature to consider making further regulations until the evidence about the use of antibiotics has been reviewed.