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ANTIMICROBIALS ARE ESSENTIAL MEDICINES
to control and treat infection in both
humans and animals.
BUT THEY ARE LOSING THEIR EFFICACITY
at an increasing rate.

 

  • The risk that disease-causing agents will develop resistance to antimicrobials increases whenever these precious medicines are used inappropriately. Once bacteria are resistant, the antimicrobial is ineffective and can no longer treat the disease. This phenomenon is called antimicrobial resistance.
  • Human, animal and plant sectors have a shared responsibility to prevent or minimise antimicrobial resistance selection pressures on pathogens. Continued availability and efficacy of existing antimicrobial classes and development of new ones are essential to maintain the health and welfare of animals.
  • The responsible and prudent use of these invaluable medicines according to intergovernmental OIE Standards will help maintain their efficacy.

We all have a role to play, and YOU, THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, CAN HELP

  • Together, we need to ensure the responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials in animals
    to preserve their availability and efficacy.
  • Tackling pathogen resistance to antimicrobials is a priority objective of the OIE. Through its international
    Standards, the OIE advocates for responsible and prudent use of antimicrobial agents – essential to human
    and animal health and welfare – by all animal health actors, including the pharmaceutical industry.
The pharmaceutical industry:
the Gatekeeper
  • The role of the pharmaceutical industry is to develop and manufacture safe and effective antimicrobials. The industry should help fight antimicrobial resistance by producing quality medicines and ensure they end up in the right hands and are used prudently and responsibly.
  • Your leadership and influence is central to this fight, demonstrating the professionalism and commitment that you bring to the sector.
The pharmaceutical industry
should:
  1. Ensure the safety, efficacy and quality of their antimicrobials, and adhere to good manufacturing practices.
  2. Obtain marketing authorisation, and comply with the codes of advertising to not advertise veterinary products containing antimicrobial agents directly to the food animal producer.
  3. Only use officially authorised distribution systems for the marketing and export of veterinary medicinal products containing antimicrobial agents.
  4. Cooperate with the competent Authorities and share detailed sales data for the monitoring of antimicrobial use and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance.
  5. Highlight the risk of antimicrobial resistance and the need for responsible and prudent use whenever providing or supplying antimicrobials.
  6. Participate in training on the prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials.
  7. Contribute to research to help combat antimicrobial resistance, prioritise and focus on developing alternatives to antimicrobials, such as vaccines and rapid and affordable diagnostic tests.

 

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