2013:02 ANTIBIOTIC USE IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY LEADS TO ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN HUMANS
Whereas 1:
Antibiotics are used to treat animal diseases and are added to animal feed to promote growth, to increase feed efficiency, and to prevent infections; and
Whereas 2:
There is increasing evidence that the use of antibiotic drugs in agriculture is contributing to the resistance of antibiotic medicines in humans; and
Whereas 3:
New drugs are not being developed quickly enough to replace existing drugs that are failing; and
Whereas 4:
The Canadian Medical Association has criticized the meat and poultry industries for being very slow to take steps toward prudent drug use; and
Whereas 5:
When factors like feed composition, management practices such as uncrowded feedlots, and health status of the animals are optimal, no benefit is seen resulting from the use of antibiotics to improve growth; therefore be it
Resolved 1:
That the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) adopt as policy that antibiotics used in human medicine not be used in animals where those classes of antibiotics are of high importance for human therapeutic use; and be it further
Resolved 2:
That the NCWC urge the Government of Canada to:
a. Implement an immediate ban on the use of antibiotics as animal growth promoters and enhancers of animal feed efficiency where those classes of antibiotics are of high importance for human therapeutic use;
b. Undertake a review of the issue in consultation with the Council of Chief Veterinary Officers, Council of Medical Officers of Health and National Farm Animal Health and Welfare Council; and
c. Promote best practices in animal husbandry; and
d. Reinstate the Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance.