RUMA announce ‘Task Force’ for agriculture
Industry experts have welcomed today’s publication of ‘Tackling Drug Resistant Infections Globally: Final Report and Recommendations’, by Lord Jim O’Neill.
In response to the report, the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) Alliance has announced that it is setting up a ‘task force’ to look at how meaningful targets can be developed to replace, reduce and refine antibiotic use in UK agriculture.
RUMA, which works independently with organisations involved in all stages of the animal food chain, supports the report’s main recommendations. These include a reduction in the use of antimicrobials in agriculture, and the improved surveillance of antimicrobial consumption in both humans and animals.
John FitzGerald, RUMA’s secretary general, said: “We also understand the report’s ambition to develop long-term targets. The industry has long recognised the beneficial role targets can play, but is acutely aware that inappropriate targets can also be counterproductive and even lead to increased risk of resistance.
“So we are delighted to announce the setting up of this task force which will harness the expertise of specialists across different sectors and work proactively with the authorities to look at identifying effective, evidence-based goals that work for our UK livestock sectors and protect animal welfare.”
Publication of the report has also been welcomed by The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH).
The organisation that represents the UK animal medicines sector says that it endorses the proposal for incentives to develop innovative new treatments and better diagnostics. They add, however, that these must include the veterinary sector, so that animal medicines are available to treat the diseases that vets and farmers encounter.
NOAH chief executive Dawn Howard said: “The Report’s call for improved surveillance will build on work already being undertaken within the different livestock sectors, for example in the UK poultry and pig sectors.
"Targets to reduce antibiotic use must be based on an understanding of why and where antibiotics are currently used, and we welcome the Report’s suggestion that careful consideration must be given to how any target setting will be done."
Lord Jim O’Niell’s global review on AMR sets out its final recommendations, providing a comprehensive action plan for the world to prevent drug-resistant infections and defeat the rising threat of superbugs.
It is the final report from Lord O’Neill’s Review established in the UK by Prime Minister David Cameron in 2014 to avoid the world being “cast back into the dark ages of medicine”.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
