FAO urges responsible use of antimicrobials in fish production
MANILA, Philippines – Disease-causing bacteria are increasingly becoming resistant to antimicrobial drugs, posing serious threats to human and animal health. This phenomenon, which is called antimicrobial resistance (AMR), has become an urgent global issue, pushing national governments of affected countries and international institutions to work together to ensure the responsible use of antimicrobials such as antibiotics.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been accelerating efforts to support its member countries in combating AMR in food production.
“The unsustainable use of antimicrobials in agriculture, including fisheries and aquaculture, directly affects food safety and consumer health. These medicines were developed precisely to fight infections and disease but it can do just the opposite if not administered properly. Bacteria can become immune to the drugs and can spread from animals to humans and even across geographic borders,” explains José Luis Fernández, FAO Representative in the Philippines.
“In the Asia-Pacific region, which is the world leader in aquaculture production, addressing AMR in fish production is high on the priority list. We want to ensure that capacities, policies and national action plans are put in place to facilitate the upgrading of food safety control systems in such a way that antimicrobials are prudently and responsibly used, and that alternatives for disease prevention and control are explored and considered,” he added.
International Experts
A group of international experts on fish waste management from Bangladesh, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam convened in Manila for a series of workshops that would jumpstart the implementation of the FAO action plan on combating AMR in fisheries and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region. The weeklong sessions and dialogues, which are spearheaded by FAO with the support of the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, will run from 3 to 7 July 2017.
The workshops underscore the need to promote good practices on fish waste management, with fish silage production and utilization as a way to minimize or prevent the spread of diseases, to act as antimicrobial products and consequently reduce the need for antibiotics. The sessions are also aimed at raising awareness and developing capacities for the surveillance and monitoring of antimicrobial residues in fishery products. Good practices such as the adoption of international standards and guidelines relevant to addressing antimicrobial resistance at the national level are also part of the agenda. This FAO regional effort is expected to result in stronger commitments to the effective implementation of national action plans to combat AMR.