Antimicrobial resistance: What is the risk of spread through animal transport?

EFSA has begun work on a new assessment looking at the risk of antimicrobial substance, such as an antibiotic, used to kill microorganisms or to stop them from growing and multiplying resistant bacteria spreading during animal transport.

The assessment, which was requested by the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), will focus on the risk of resistant zoonotic bacteria bacteria present in animals and food that can cause human infections spreading among poultry, pigs and cattle during transport to other farms or to slaughterhouses.

When antimicrobial resistance The ability of microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi) to survive exposure to antimicrobials. This phenomenon, driven largely by the overuse and misuse of antimicrobial agents (e.g. antibiotics, fungicides used as plant protection agents, etc), makes infections harder to treat and poses a significant threat to public health. (AMR) occurs in  zoonotic A term given to diseases and infections that can be transmitted between animals and humans bacteria – bacteria that can be passed from animals to humans – it can also compromise the effective treatment of infectious diseases in humans.

Marta Hugas, EFSA’s Chief Scientist, said: “Resistance to antimicrobials is an urgent public health threat, and evidence-based advice is critical to developing policy and legislation to meet this challenge.

“This new mandate – which focuses on the possible implications for human health –  illustrates once again the growing convergence between animal and human health and the need for a One Health integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems approach by assessors and policymakers.”

As well as investigating the factors that can cause the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria through transport, EFSA will also review  preventive measures and control options, and identify data needs to support further analysis of the issue. The final scientific opinion Opinions include risk assessments on general scientific issues, evaluations of an application for the authorisation of a product, substance or claim, or an evaluation of a risk assessment is expected to be finalised by September 2022.

The request emerged from discussions held over the past year between the European Parliament, the European Commission and EFSA.