§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has assessed which supports the proposition that antibiotics fed to animals cause resistance to that antibiotic in humans. [137743]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 13 November 2000]An in-depth review of antibiotic resistance in relation to food safety was undertaken by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) and it was published in September 1999. The Government's response to the ACMSF's recommendations was published on 24 March 2000. Copies of the Report and the Government's response are available in the Library of the House.
The ACMSF report included recommendations for further research to characterise the origins of resistance in foodborne pathogens and commensal micro-organisms so as to improve the identification of the sources and routes of transfer of resistant organisms from the farm through food to humans. The ACMSF also recommended research into the use of microbiological risk assessment to quantify the magnitude of the key pathways by which microbial antibiotic resistance can transfer from food animals to humans via the food chain and the environment.
The Government are committed to a co-ordinated research programme to investigate problems associated with resistance to antimicrobials in the context of public health. Such a programme is being co-ordinated by an Interdepartmental Steering Group on Resistance to Antibiotics and other Antimicrobial Agents. The Steering Group carries out this work as part of the implementation of the Government Strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance which was published in June. Copies are available in the Library of the House.