EU praises Denmark’s antibiotics efforts

Danes considered an example for other member states

According to a new report from the EU Commission, Denmark is one of the nations leading the way when it comes to tackling problems associated with resistant bacteria.

The report (here in English) commends the initiatives that the Danish agriculture and food authority Fødevarestyrelsen has implemented in order to reduce the use of antibiotics in pigs.

“There are indications that these policies have led to a more prudent and reduced use of antimicrobials – both in production and companion animals,” the report found.

“Despite the multi-factorial and complex epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance, detailed analysis of the data collected in Denmark (including on sales and antimicrobial resistance monitoring) has shown some of the impacts of these measures on the levels of antimicrobial resistance in animals, food and humans.”

READ MORE: Danish pig producers reducing the use of antibiotics

A shining example
The report went on to contend that the measures put in place in Denmark could serve as an example for other EU member states to mimic.

The EU Commission hailed a number of Danish initiatives, including a yellow card warning system for farmers who use too many antibiotics, the Danish rules regarding flock treatment, and an action plan for MRSA in farm animals.

“Since 2009, Danish agriculture has reduced the use of antibiotics in its pig production by more than 20 percent, so Denmark is currently at the bottom compared to the nations we usually compare ourselves to,” said Per Henriksen, the veterinarian head of Fødevarestyrelsen.

“It’s nice to receive some recognition from the EU for those efforts.”

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