'Working together works’: Stewardship delivers again on antibiotic reductions

The British Poultry Council has released its 2022 Antibiotic Stewardship Report, highlighting the significant achievements made by the British poultry meat sector’s drive for excellence in bird health and welfare whilst safeguarding the efficacy of antibiotics across the supply chain.

Ongoing collaboration and sharing of data in the industry that is putting food on every table has helped achieve:

78.9% reduction in the total use of antibiotics since 2012.
87.1% reduction in the use of Fluoroquinolones in the last eleven years.
97.7% reduction in use of Critically Important Antibiotics

BPC Chief Executive, Richard Griffiths, said: “The safe and responsible use of antibiotics has been prioritised by the poultry industry since 2011. Our BPC Antibiotic Stewardship has seen routine preventative application stopped and overall use decrease by nearly 80%, proving that the voluntary, proactive approach we have has taken is succeeding. It is clear working together works.

A billion birds a year are reared for food in this country and our farmers have a duty of care to every single one. Part of that duty of care includes working with professional veterinarians to safeguard bird health by ensuring the sustainability of our antibiotics. In 2021 just 17 tonnes of antibiotics were used – nearly 4 tonnes less than in 2020.

That is not to say we can sit back now that we have reached low levels of usage. It is inevitable that our annual figures will fluctuate in response to the challenges we face during that period. Those fluctuations are our stewardship in practice, actively working to keep our antibiotics effective, fit for purpose, and available for when they are needed. The sector has taken a lead in understanding its own use and impact. What is important is that we maintain an open and honest dialogue about the reasons behind fluctuations and what we are doing to mitigate them.

Beyond responsible use, it is imperative that we understand the reasons behind broader antibiotic resistance. This is a complex, global issue that extends across livestock, the environment and human health. Exploring reasons behind resistance will require some serious collaboration between Government and stakeholders but as our BPC Antibiotic Stewardship continues to demonstrate, good things happen when we all work together.”