Implementation of Codex standards to support containment and reduction of foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Operating in Bolivia and Colombia, this project aims to:

• Strengthen multisectoral and interinstitutional collaboration and governance to establish an integrated One Health approach to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 
• Enhance AMR/antimicrobial use surveillance and data collection systems. In Bolivia, efforts focus on systematizing AMR data for evidence-based decision-making, while in Colombia, the emphasis is on providing epidemiological support to maximize the use of existing surveillance data.
  

Health authorities (regulatory and supervisory) overseeing food production and control, official and independent research-focused laboratories, private sector organizations (including unions) and professionals involved in food production and the marketing of products for agricultural use.

Regulatory authorities, national laboratories, food producers, veterinary product manufacturers/retailers, and consumers throughout the food chain.

Governance: In Bolivia, the formation of a National Committee for AMR required collaboration across three ministries.

Surveillance: Colombia is establishing an epidemiological unit to manage and analyze AMR data from primary food production.

Governance:

• Evaluation of  National Action Plans: In 2022 both countries evaluated their National Action Plans for AMR (NAPs) for AMR using the FAO Progressive Management Pathway for Antimicrobial Resistance (FAO-PMP-AMR) tool to identify progress and set future actions.
• Codex standards: Regulatory and technical reviews of Codex AMR standards informed updates to national regulations.
• Committee formation: In Bolivia, representatives from the areas of animal health, plant health and food safety of SENASAG, the National Institute of Health Laboratories (INLASA) and the State Agency of Medicines and Health Technologies (AGEMED) agreed on the formation of a National Committee for AMR.A Committee for the Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance in Agricultural Health and Food Safety (CC-RAM) was also established, which will allow the country to advance AMR issues from the agri-food sector, independently of the National Committee. Colombia has established and maintained its governance structure, supported by regular meetings, to monitor the progress of its national commitments on AMR. This initiative includes fostering public-private alliances to strengthen efforts in AMR containment.

Surveillance:

• FAO-ATLASS Tool: Bolivia and Colombia assessed their national AMR surveillance systems evaluated using the FAO-ATLASS tool, in collaboration with the Mexican National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA), a recognized FAO Reference Center for AMR. identifying opportunities to strengthen laboratory and system capacities. This evaluation highlighted key opportunities to strengthen laboratory capacities and enhance the overall surveillance system, paving the way for more sustainable and effective AMR monitoring and management.
• Strengthened Laboratory Capacity: Bolivia is enhancing laboratory capacities to conduct antimicrobial susceptibility testing on samples from primary food production, ensuring compliance with a standardized quality management system. These efforts support the resumed AMR surveillance plan in food animals. It has also committed to establishing an AMR laboratory network, enhancing laboratory capacities with national reference laboratories, facilitating communication and strengthening collaborations between laboratories and sanitary authorities. This initiative will bolster the overall AMR surveillance system in the agricultural sector. Colombia is establishing an epidemiological unit to enhance its surveillance system by managing and analyzing AMR data from monitoring programmes in primary food production, covering both animal and plant sources.