I veckan har vi firat Vi Konsumenters 10 års jubileum med temat Hållbar konsumtion (återkommer med ett fylligare referat). Ett viktigt inslag var Christina Grekos SVA:s tankar kring hur vi kan medverka till att vi även i fortsättning kan använda antibiotika som läkemedel för att bota infektioner. Vi har överanvänt antibiotika i 80 år. Vi måste fokusera på friska djur och människor och ta bort onödig användning. Vi behöver ny kunskap och mer forskning. Man måste sluta att skylla på varandra säger Christina. Vi har alla ett ansvar och är en del av problematiken kring en ökning av antibiotikaresistensen. I slutändan handlar det om globala marknader och priset på kotletten.
På måndag, 17 november, samlar ECDC, den europeiska smittskyddsenheten med säte i Stockholm, till ett högnivåmöte kring antibiotikaresistens med representanter från bl a WHO, EU-kommissionen, FDA (USA:s myndighet för livsmedel och läkemedel) och EU:s bondeorganisationer COPA/COGECA. Konstigt nog har man inte bjudit in SVA som expertmyndighet. Örjan Brinkman har bjudits in som ordförande i BEUC, den europeiska konsumentorganisationen. BEUC går ut med en kampanj på antibiotikadagen. Budskapet är att antibiotikaresistenta bakterier når dig genom antibiotikaanvändning i djurhållningen. Kraven från BEUC är att begränsa användningen till endast sjuka djur, säkerställ vissa antibiotika till humansjukvården och minska behovet av antibiotikabehandling genom att förbättra hygien och djuromsorg. Särskilt det senaste är viktigt eftersom BEUC tidigare mest talat om begränsningar i tillgången. Den 18 november är själva antibiotikadagen och dags för Antibiotikaforum. Då ska Socialstyrelsen äntligen presentera den svenska handlingsplanen. I övrigt handlar konferensen om antibiotika i den yttre miljön. Jag anser att vi alla har ett ansvar – även jag som konsument. Jag har skickat med följande synpunkter med Örjan Brinkman till seminariet den 17 november.
One Health
Humans and animals share the same environment. Human and Animal health are linked via the food chain and the environment
Prevention is better than curing
Healthy people and healthy animals must be focused. An animal production which is dependent on a constant use of drugs is not sustainable.
Every bodies´ responsibility – stop blaming someone else
– Policy makers
– Competent authorities
– International organizations EU-level, international level WHO, OIE
– Doctors
– Veterinarians
– Pharmaceutical industry
– Food industry/retailers/ restaurants
– Public procurement
– Farmers/ animal owners
– Consumers
Consumers´ responsibilities
– as patients
– as animal owners (pets)
– as food consumers
Consumer demands.
There is a close connection between animal welfare, animal health, the need for treatment with antibiotics and the risk for increased antibacterial resistance. In order to be as far as possible independent of the need on antibiotics in animal production the focus must be on how to keep animals healthy without drugs, but with a good animal environment and management with promotes health.
Policy makers´ responsibility to act
– EU-commission must apply sanctions on EU-member states which have not implemented the animal welfare directives on pigs, chickens, calves and laying hens. Introduce common animal welfare legislation for all farm animals, with high priority for cattle (over 6 months). Dairy cows have a high incidence of antibiotic treatment
– Incentive for veterinarians to prescribe antibiotics should be banned. Veterinarians should not earn their money by selling medicine. Already banned in many EU-countries
– Support a worldwide ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters (TTIP negotiations?). General prophylaxis to animals must be phased out.
– The new European Veterinary Medicines Directive should define critical drugs for human medicine, which should be avoided in animal production e. g. cephalosporins.
– Force the EU-commission to fulfill the action plan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
– Support a global action plan on AMR
Information, communication and increased knowledge
There are often ambitions among consumers to do the right things and contribute to a sustainable society To be able to contribute to a lower risk for antibiotic resistance it is necessary to get information and knowledge of the importance of preventing antibiotic resistance. That means that as a patient I should respect the doctors and veterinarians refuse to prescribe antibiotics.
The choice of meat, eggs and dairy products has an impact on the use of antibiotics in animal production. There is great variation on consumption depending on husbandry system. Some systems are dependent on the constant use of antibiotics e.g. intensive veal production.
It is the responsibility
– For the competent authorities to inform consumers of the risks
– For the food industry, retailers, restaurants and public procurers to put claims on suppliers on the use of antibiotics in animal production; slaughter industry, dairies and egg packers
– For the slaughter houses, dairies and egg packers to put claims on animal producers, advisers, veterinarians to promote healthy animals
EMA report 2014 on why Sweden has the lowest consumption of antibiotics in animal production in Sweden “The long-term changes are the result of a working model built on continuous collaboration between academia, governmental organisations, advisers in preventive medicine, veterinarians and farmers. The core element of the strategy is to reduce the need for antimicrobials through, for example, biosecurity, disease-control programmes, and optimised management and husbandry. When antimicrobials are needed, guidance on their prudent use is available.”
Gunnela Ståhle