Antibiotics are needed to fight bacterial infections in animals – they are critical if we are to safeguard animal welfare and animal health.

Antibiotics are used worldwide both in veterinary and human medicine. There are heightened concerns about the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, which impacts animal welfare, public health, food safety and the environment.

The conference sees a variety of experts, including representatives from many IFAH members, present current thinking in antibiotic usage to achieve the stated conference objectives, which are:

• To give an overview of the current status and ongoing activities with respect to the issue of antibiotic use in animals and antimicrobial resistance;
  
  
• To learn about the expectations of different parties involved;
  
  
• To identify the areas which need further action with respect to the current scientific knowledge and political expectations; and
  
  
• To open up possibilities for effective actions and co-ordination of activities.
  
  

Carel du Marchie Sarvaas, Executive Director for IFAH says: “IFAH and its members are involved in numerous activities to promote responsible use of antibiotics at global, regional and national levels, in collaboration with different stakeholders such as government agencies, non-governmental organisations, veterinary and farmer organisations. Responsible use guidelines have been presented by the World Animal Health organisation (OIE) and Codex Alimentarius, and are fully supported by IFAH.’”

“Conferences such as this one in Amsterdam will hopefully stimulate a more collaborative approach by all stakeholders involved in the debate for the protection of animal and public health for future generations," Carel continues.