EU FARMERS and cooperatives are making huge efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance, Europe's farm unions have insisted.

Copa and Cogeca this week highlighted the progress that the industry has already made in tackling antimicrobial resistance, with the latest reports showing a 13% decline in use in livestock production.

Speaking at a high-level event organised in European Parliament by the European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals, C and C secretary-general Pekka Pesonen said: “Farmers and their cooperatives are very committed to make this work. It is in their interests to ensure that their livestock production is sustainable, with healthy and productive animals. Improving animal health is after all one of the best ways to reduce the need for antibiotic treatment. Our motto is that 'prevention is better than cure.

“We are founding members of EPRUMA and we work on the principle that antibiotics should be used as 'little as possible and as much as necessary'. Our campaign is having a positive impact with a European Survey on Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption for the period 2011-2015 showing that there has been a 13% decline in antimicrobial use in livestock production in the EU.".