V.MFS.0458 - Technical Advisor: Antimicrobial resistance

Summary

Antimicrobial resistance is an international One Health concern: extending to humans, animals and the environment. Resistance is associated with usage of antimicrobials and their stewardship by animal industries. It promises to become a significant trade issue. The purpose of this consultancy is to assist MLA in planning, investigating and communicating aspects of the science, policy and strategy concerning industry's response to this issue.

Objectives

The main aims of this project were to establish the key drivers of the collection of data on and reporting of AMR and AMU by the Australian red meat industry and to identify gaps and opportunities for the red meat industry to meet these expectations.

Key findings

Market drivers of AMR (and especially AMU) reporting include the countries to which we export our animal products, companies buying those products and the end consumers. The 2014 APVMA report showed low usage in livestock (and extremely low usage comparatively in cattle).

Surveys of AMR (antimicrobial resistance) done in red meat have found very low levels of AMR, especially to antimicrobials that are considered highly important for human health. To date there have been four of these surveys, but trade partners and Government are likely to be looking for a more organised, frequent AMR surveillance system than we currently have.

Benefits to industry

This report provides a reference document on the key expectations from the top (Tripartite) down for measurement and reporting of AMR and AMU by Australian livestock (and specifically red meat) industries. It identifies gaps in our current reporting capabilities, along with key areas where, were we to improve our capacity we would be in a stronger position with respect to trade than we currently are.

MLA action

This final report will be published on the MLA R&D website.

Future research

If the animal (and specifically red meat) sectors wish to produce regular, relevant data on usage and resistance, (for example to address market demands) it is likely they will need to develop the capacity to do this themselves. It may be in the best interests of the red meat sector to develop their own usage and resistance monitoring system, and to report those data in a more meaningful, timely and appropriate manner than is currently done.