There are a few points of clarification RUMA wishes to address directly related to the ASOA Report which are misleading and/or could cause confusion:

• The report states that ‘Livestock farmers have an incentive to use more antibiotics on their herds, because intensive farming conditions can lead to an increased risk of disease’.This is not true andthere is no evidence to substantiate this. Antibiotics can only be used when prescribed by a vet and are given to help protect animal health and welfare if it is appropriate to do so. Those sectors which do have more intensive systems are for the majority, in direct supply chains with retailers which means there is absolute transparency on any antibiotic use due to the policies retailers have in place which support more responsible use of antibiotics in direct supply chains
• In the ASOA Report it states that ‘In some countries, antibiotics are used routinely, to promote growth as well as treat diseases that otherwise run rife in intensive system’. This is not the case in the UK and our law stipulates that ‘antibiotics must not be used to compensate for poor hygiene or inadequate animal husbandry’. It is important to highlight that UK standards are incredibly high and comparisons with other countries such as the EU, can be misleading as the farming systems and approaches are not always comparable. The UK’s reduction in antibiotic use in livestock of 59% over the past decade has been delivered voluntarily, putting the UK ahead of many other countries in its efforts and achievements in tackling AMR. This is a unique approach that has been recognised and applauded globally
• The UK and the EU banned the use of antibiotics for growth promotion in livestock back in 2006. On references the report makes to Colistin: In 2022, there was no use of the last-resort antibiotic colistin in the UK, for the first time since data on the use of this antibiotic began to be published. RUMA, alongside industry bodies right across the UK livestock sectors, recognised its importance to human medicine and collectively introduced a voluntary restriction on its use back in 2015 which has resulted in negligible use since 2017, and no use at all reported in 2021. There are also usage restrictions on other medically important antibiotics under farm assurance schemes; for example, Red Tractor requires that HP-CIAs are only used as a last resort and supported by a veterinary statement outlining justification for use, including sensitivity testing and/or diagnostics.
• The majority of animal products being sold in the UK are own brand products and are therefore subject to supermarket policies which support more responsible use of antibiotics in their direct supply chains. Supermarkets are working to drive change aligned to UK standards over indirect and branded supply chains

RUMA Chair, Cat McLaughlin, says: “While RUMA is pleased to see that the recently released ASOA Report into ‘antibiotic use in supermarket supply chains’ has recognised not only the UK’s low use of antibiotics in livestock and the significant reductions in use which have been delivered over the past decade, the report also contains misleading information that detracts from the great work already achieved and which continues in earnest.

“The reductions in antibiotic use in UK livestock has been the result of a voluntary and combined effort comprising multiple stakeholders at all levels from right across the livestock sectors alongside retailers.

“It is important that anyone reading the report ensures they differentiate the UK position from the global position because the UK position on antibiotic use in livestock is a positive one.  The laws in place coupled with the ongoing commitment of the sectors, should reassure British consumers that UK livestock production is subject to some of the highest and rigorous health and welfare standards in the world.”

In the UK, the use of antibiotics in food producing animals is lower than in many other countries. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s (VMD) UK-Veterinary Antibiotic Resistance Sales Surveillance (2022) Report shows that UK antibiotic sales for food-producing animals have reduced by 59% since 2014, to 25.7 mg/kg. This represents the lowest sales to date. Sales of Highest Priority Important Antibiotics (HP-CIAs) in food-producing animals remain at very low levels at 0.12 mg/kg in 2022 and account for less than 0.5% of total sales. Antibiotics can only be used when prescribed by a vet.

Cat continues: “It is important to note there are some major points of difference between standards in UK livestock production versus those in other countries. UK livestock sectors including retailers, have made huge progress in tackling AMR and reducing use over the last decade, taking ownership and defining reduction targets – a journey that has been robustly monitored and reported on and which evidences significant reductions. In that time, supermarkets have played a key role in strengthening its policies, including the introduction of greater restrictions on the use of antibiotics, which has undoubtedly made a significant contribution to reductions in antibiotic use.  It is however disappointing that globally, use does continue to rise. While our journey here in the UK is quite advanced compared to some, we do not rest on our laurels and there is an ongoing priority and commitment right across UK livestock sectors and retailers alike, to continue to tackle AMR and adapt and optimise our approaches to doing so to protect the efficacy of antibiotics for the future.

“Whilst there is much to praise about the UK position and achievements across all livestock sectors in tackling AMR, an area of ongoing importance is to ensure that these efforts are not undermined by lower standards on imported products – this is an area of concern that the ASOA Report highlights.

“It is vital that consumers are aware of the high standards followed in the UK; backing UK farmers, producers and retailers and recognising their low antibiotic use and antibiotic stewardship programmes and policies, alongside their commitment to high health and welfare, should give confidence and reassurance to the UK public that food grown and reared in the UK is of the highest possible standards.”