Summary
This paper by Van Boeckel and colleagues, published in Science, reviews global progress in reducing antimicrobial use in food animals in response to growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The authors likely assess the extent to which regulatory interventions, voluntary commitments, and international frameworks have translated into measurable reductions in veterinary antibiotic consumption. The paper situates national-level progress within the broader One Health agenda, highlighting disparities between high-income and low- and middle-income countries.
UK applicability
The findings are broadly applicable to the UK, which has made notable progress in reducing veterinary antibiotic use through the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) Alliance targets and Veterinary Medicines Directorate monitoring. Post-Brexit, UK policy on AMR in agriculture continues to align with international benchmarks discussed in this literature.
Key measures
Antimicrobial consumption (mg/kg of animal biomass); national policy adoption rates; changes in antimicrobial use over time by country and region
Outcomes reported
The study assessed trends in antimicrobial consumption in food animals across multiple countries, examining the progress made following national and international policy interventions to restrict or reduce antibiotic use in livestock production.
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