The final draft of the United Nations Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) provides a clear outline for global action against AMR. We appreciate the work undertaken by UN Member States to develop a broad consensus for better animal health and disease prevention, alongside actions in human health and environmental areas, as a core pathway to address AMR in a One Health manner.

The recommendations outlined build upon the many years of action within the animal health sector as coalitions promoting Responsible Use of medicines in animals have brought stakeholders together in countries across Europe to support sustainable reductions in the need to use antibiotics. Animal medicines companies globally have also set measurable goals, including bringing new prevention and diagnostics tools to market. Additionally, countries have been collecting data on antibiotic use for decades and reporting into bodies such as the European Medicines Agency and the World Organisation for Animal Health to support better understanding of global use. This Political Declaration can bring renewed support for these long-term efforts and encourage others to emulate it.

In particular, the animal health sector congratulates countries for creating global consensus in three key areas:

• Disease Prevention: Commitment for all nations to have animal vaccination strategies with defined implementation plans by 2030, recognising “the need to prioritise and fund the implementation to prevent and control infections.”
• Access to animal health tools: Commitment to “promote the timely supply of quality and affordable essential veterinary medicines, vaccines and diagnostics”, acknowledging the need to improve diagnostic use and increase the number of veterinarians, veterinary paraprofessionals and paraprofessionals globally.
• Science-based solutions: Call for the creation of an ‘independent panel’ that can provide the scientific evidence necessary to address AMR in a One Health manner.

Furthermore, the Declaration importantly recognises that this work must take national contexts into consideration and builds upon existing agreements like the Codex Alimentarius Antimicrobial Resistance Standards. The animal health sector supports Codex standards, including those regarding the phase out of medically important antimicrobials for growth promotion and encouraging the prudent, responsible use of antimicrobials when used prophylactically.

AnimalhealthEurope Secretary General Roxane Feller commented:

“We are pleased to see commitments which will serve to further support efforts to ensure the responsible use of antibiotics for animal health purposes. Improving global access to better veterinary care and oversight, as well as the essential tools to prevent disease (vaccines) and allow for better diagnosis will help to ensure that antibiotics are used as little as possible, but as much as necessary in the animal sector around the world.

To support this Declaration at EU level we look forward to strong One Health leadership within the next European Commission and count on Commission President von der Leyen to appoint a Commissioner for Health who is suitably qualified for this important role.”

The animal health sector looks forward to working with governments and stakeholders to implement the Declaration. The recent report developed by the global animal health association HealthforAnimals with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation – ‘How Prevention Can Reduce the Need for Antibiotics’ can provide valuable guidance for improving disease prevention, while investment in animal health systems and support for innovation can provide the necessary tools and infrastructure to achieve it. This work can help achieve global goals to address AMR and improve the lives of both people and animals in the years to come.

-ENDS –