Introduction to Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain: The Relevance of Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance from a Global Point of View

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a significant public health problem resulting from use and misuse of antimicrobial agents. Any kind of antimicrobial use in people, animals or plants can promote the development and spread of AMR. Also, AMR does not respect geographical or biological borders. Thus, the use of antimicrobial in one sector, setting or country affects the spread of resistance in others. AMR is also a food safety concern considering the use of antimicrobials in food animals, for treatment, disease prevention or growth promotion, thus allowing resistant bacteria and resistance genes to pass through the food chain from food animals to humans. Resistance in the foodborne zoonotic bacteria Salmonella and Campylobacter is clearly linked to antimicrobial use in food animals, and foodborne diseases caused by such resistant bacteria are well documented in people.

Tackling AMR requires a multi-faceted holistic approach, which includes collaboration, cooperation and information-sharing between the public health and the veterinary sectors. Addressing use of antimicrobial agents in food chain and the occurrence and spread of AMR in the food chain is an important aspect of the efforts to combat AMR.

At the Sixty-eight World Health Assembly in May 2015, the World Health Assembly endorsed a global action plan to tackle AMR. The World Health Assembly also urged all Member States to develop and have in place by 2017, national action plans on AMR that are aligned with the objectives of the global action plan. A manual has been developed by WHO, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to assist countries in preparing or refining their national action plans. It aims to facilitate the participation of all relevant sectors, and outlines an incremental approach that can be adapted by countries to their specific needs, circumstances and available resources.