Antimicrobial Resistance

India’s steps to regulate the use of antibiotics in food animal production reflect a growing global consensus on the need to address Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The potential consequences of unchecked AMR are dire, not just for human health but for food security and the global economy.

India, as one of the largest producers and exporters of animal-derived food products, must align its practices with international regulations, particularly with the European Union's stringent rules on antimicrobial usage in food production.

Key Takeaways:

Impact of AMR:

• Economic Consequences: AMR could cost up to $100 trillion in global economic losses by 2050, and food security for 2 billion people is at risk due to declining livestock productivity.

• Healthcare Costs: The rise of drug-resistant infections could drive healthcare costs up by $159 billion annually and could lead to an annual global GDP loss of $1.7 trillion.

• Livestock Losses: Reduced livestock productivity due to AMR could affect up to 2 billion people, disrupting food supply chains.

Current Use of Antibiotics in Aquaculture & Livestock:

• Antimicrobial Consumption: Fluoroquinolones account for a significant portion (15.8%) of antimicrobials used in aquaculture. This usage contributes to the potential spread of resistant bacteria.

• Growth Promoters: Some countries, including India, still use antibiotics as growth promoters, posing a threat to both animal and human health.

• Critically Important Antibiotics: There’s ongoing concern over the use of critically important antibiotics like colistin and enrofloxacin, which are essential in treating human infections but are still being used in food production.

India’s Efforts to Strengthen Regulatory Framework:

• Antibiotic Bans in Food Production: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has banned 15 antibiotics, 18 antivirals, and 1 antiprotozoal drug in the production of milk, eggs, and honey, in line with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) guidelines.

• Aquaculture Guidelines: India’s coastal aquaculture guidelines have banned several antibiotic classes and specific antibiotics, helping meet export standards, particularly for international markets that demand antibiotic-free products.

• Honey Residue Limits: India has set stricter residue limits for antibiotics in honey, helping ensure that exports meet international safety standards.

Challenges in Implementation:

• Enforcement Issues: Many small-scale farmers rely on low-cost antibiotics and may use veterinary drugs without prescriptions. This complicates enforcement, requiring more robust inspection and testing systems.

• Fragmented Oversight: Regulatory authority is spread across different ministries—health, agriculture, and environment—which can lead to policy gaps and inconsistent enforcement.

• Weak Surveillance: A centralized AMR database is lacking in India, making it difficult to track resistance patterns and antibiotic consumption.

• Environmental Impact: Pharmaceutical waste from antibiotic residues often ends up in water sources, spreading resistance further into the environment.

Global Trade and Health Implications:

• Trade Compliance: India needs to comply with EU’s regulations to maintain and expand access to premium export markets. Failure to do so could disrupt its agricultural exports, especially as international buyers demand antibiotic-free products.

• Public Health Protection: AMR endangers public health by making previously treatable infections deadly. India’s regulatory changes aim to safeguard critical antibiotics for human use and curb resistance.

Way Forward:

• One Health Approach: India’s approach aligns with the One Health framework, which emphasizes the interconnection of human, animal, and environmental health. By addressing antibiotic misuse in agriculture, India seeks to preserve the effectiveness of life-saving drugs for future generations.

• Strengthening Enforcement: There is a need to implement prescription-only sales for veterinary antibiotics and crack down on illegal distribution, ensuring that antibiotics are used only when absolutely necessary.

• Awareness and Education: Awareness campaigns targeted at farmers, doctors, and the general public are essential to shift perceptions on antibiotic use and resistance.

• Surveillance Investments: Building comprehensive AMR surveillance systems to track patterns of antibiotic usage and resistance can help authorities target interventions more effectively.

• Promotion of Alternatives: Encouraging vaccination, biosecurity, and improved hygiene in farming practices can reduce the reliance on antibiotics and ensure healthier animal populations.