Sales of antibiotics for production animals nearly halved in Europe in ten years

Total sales of antibiotics for production animals in Europe has declined significantly since 2011, according to a recent ESVAC report of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Sales of critically important antibiotics were also significantly lower. Considerable differences between countries remain.

The report covers data from 2010 to 2021 and sales figures in it are proportioned according to the number of production animals. Combined sales of antibiotics in the 25 countries that have participated the longest, starting in 2011, have nearly halved in ten years (-47%). A comparison of countries showed declining sales in 23 of them (4-65%), and rising sales in two (30-39%).

Finland is one of the countries in which total sales figures for antibiotics for production animals are moderate and under control. When proportioned according to the number of production animals, sales of antibiotics increased in Finland by five percent in 2021 compared with the previous year, but the result was nevertheless the second lowest ever measured. In Finland more than two thirds of antibiotics for production animals were meant for individual medication, whereas in Europe (87%) most antibiotics are administered through feed or drinking water to groups of animals.

Another indication of Finland's moderate use of antibiotics on animals is that the bacteria isolated from the animals are mostly sensitive to primary antibiotics. The sensitivity situation for certain causes of disease has nevertheless weakened. Detailed information on the degree of bacteria resistance among animals and the sale of antibiotics in Finland is available in the fresh FINRES-Vet 2021 report.

Further information:

ESVAC 12. report (pdf)

Country reports on sales trends 2010-2021

European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC)

ESVAC-2021 results briefly on Fimea website (in Finnish)

FINRES-Vet 2021 reports (in Finnish)

Finnish Food Authority FINRES-Vet news 18 November 2022 (in Finnish)