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Share of livestock units for which EU Member States have planned CAP-supported interventions to limit the use of antimicrobials over the implementing period 2023-2027
Veterinary antimicrobials in Europe’s environment: a One Health perspective
Antimicrobials are an essential tool to prevent or treat disease in humans and animals. In food systems, they help to ensure the health and welfare of animals raised for food. However, their use can also lead to environmental pollution and potentially affect human health, including by contributing to the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This briefing summarises the latest knowledge on how antimicrobials used in food-producing animals may impact the health of humans, animals and ecosystems, and reviews progress in reducing their use in Europe’s food system.
(a) Annual sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and in aquaculture in the EU-27 (2018-2022); (b) Sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and in aquaculture by EU Member State in 2018 and 2022
Chart (a) on the left presents the aggregate annual data on the sales of antimicrobials in food-producing animals in the EU-27, expressed in milligrams per Population Correction Unit (PCU). The PCU is used to normalise antimicrobial sales data for the size of the animal population that could potentially be treated with these substances. The PCU takes into account the number of animals slaughtered and their estimated weight when treated. Using this methodology, 1 PCU corresponds to 1 kilogram of animal biomass. The chart also shows the value for the baseline year (2018) from which progress against the relevant 2030 zero pollution target is calculated (orange horizontal line), as well as the zero pollution target value of 59.2 mg/PCU (yellow horizontal line). Right figure: The chart presents the data on the sales of veterinary antimicrobials in food-producing animals in 2018 and 2022 by EU Member State, also expressed in milligrams per PCU.