Doc. 8155

3 July 1998

Agricultural policy and health : use of antibiotics in food production

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mrs. Johansson and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development organised a seminar on the use of antibiotics in food production, which took place in London on 8 June 1998.

2. Antibiotics are a valuable and vital method of treatment for human beings and remain the only treatment possible for certain diseases. It is therefore essential to prevent them being prescribed and used too frequently so as to avoid the development of bacterial resistance which can reduce or eliminate their effectiveness.

3. However, although their use is subject to controls, antibiotics are employed commonly in agriculture, in particular in livestock rearing, as additives in animal fodder, both for therapeutic purposes (preventive and curative) and for nutritional purposes (as growth promoters), which can, in turn, have an impact on food production.

4. Although the veterinary use of antibiotics provides an essential guarantee for the quality and healthiness of animal-based foods, the purely economic motivations behind their use as growth promoters (helping to increase productivity) are questionable.

5. The use of antibiotics in the food chain must be based on the best available scientific safety tests and risk analyses and, where necessary, on the precaution principle so as to guarantee consumers the best possible food and health security.

6. It must be ensured that no antibiotic residues remain in foodstuffs (especially meat, dairy produce and eggs) or are disseminated in the environment, so as to prevent their being transmitted to human beings.

7. It has been proven that there is a risk of the development of bacterial resistance to the antibiotics used in animal fodder, and studies are being carried out in order to check whether this could be passed on to human beings who eat food from animals treated with antibiotics or fed on products containing antibiotics.

8. Some member states (Denmark, Finland and Sweden) have restricted or banned the use of antibiotics in animal fodder. The European Union and other international organisations such as the World Health Organization are examining the issue.

9. Noting that this issue is causing concern both among Europe’s citizens and consumers and among scientists and policy-makers, the Assembly decides to examine the problems relating to the use of antibiotics in food production.

10. The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers :

i.       include issues relating to the use of antibiotics in food production, in particular in livestock rearing, in the Council of Europe’s work programme on public health, in co-operation with other international organisations ;

ii.       invite member states :

a. to restrict the use of antibiotics in food production,

      b. to carry out the necessary scientific studies,

Signed1:

I.B. Johansson, Sweden, SOC       Kitov, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Seiler, Switzerland, LDR       Korkeaoja, Finland, LDR

Figel, Slovakia, EPP/CD       Rugāte, Latvia, EPP/CD

Behrendt, Germany, SOC       Telgmaa, Estonia, EDG

Ciupaila, Lithuania, LDR       Woltjer, Netherlands, SOC

Etherington, United Kingdom, SOC

Hadjidemetriou, Cyprus, SOC

Kiratlioglu, Turkey, EPP/CD

1        SOC: Socialist Group

LDR: Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group