Lok Sabha Question No. 2741 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Use of Antibiotics in Animals
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BALKA SUMAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING AND FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2741 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 ST  AUGUST, 2017

## USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN ANIMALS

## 2741 :  SHRI SUMAN BALKA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has written to the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries seeking to regulate the use of antibiotics in animals due to increasing Anti Microbial Resistance (AMR) in animals which is indirectly affecting human health, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to frame and implement a regulatory framework to limit the use of antimicrobials in livestock and food animals. if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is in the process of developing surveillance systems for anti-microbial resistance and antibiotic use in the animal population;
- (d) if  so,  whether the Government has any data on exact amount of antibiotic consumed within the poultry industry and the condition for which the medication was prescribed; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI SUDARSAN BHAGAT)

(a)  The  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry,  Dairying  and  Fisheries  has  not  received  letter  from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to regulate the use of antibiotics in animals.  However, Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  has  prepared  comprehensive  National  Action  Plan  on Antimicrobial  Resistance  to  implement  relevant  policies  and  plans  to  prevent,  control  and  monitor AMR.  Recently,  Secretary,  Health  and  Family  Welfare  has  sent  a  communication  to  Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries to provide detailed inputs from the ministry regarding  action  to  be  taken  by  the  Ministry  for  AMR  containment  so  that  the  same  can  be incorporated for operationalizing the action plan.

(b)&(c)  As  per  the  information  received  from  the  Central  Drugs  Standards  Control  Organization (CDSCO) that import, manufacture, sale, distribution of drugs including antibiotics are regulated under provisions of Drugs & Cosmetic Act and Rules. Antibiotics are required to be sold by retail only under the  prescription  of  a  Registered  Medical  Practitioner.  Further,  in  order  to  regulate  the  sale  of antibiotics,  the  Drugs  Cosmetic  Rules,  1945  has  been  amended  vide  Gazette  Notification  No. GSR588(E)  dated  30.08.2013  incorporating  a  new,  namely,  Schedule  H1  under  the  Drugs  and Cosmetics Rules containing 46 drugs which include antibiotic drugs. Rule 97 of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules,  1945  were  amended  vide  Gazette  Notification  No  GSR  28  (E)  dated  17-01-2012  making  it mandatory that the container of a medicine for treatment of food producing animals shall be labelled with the withdrawal period of the drug for the species on which it is intended to be used.

Further, the Department of Animal Husbandry has issued advisories to all state/UTs for judicious use of  antibiotics  in  livestock  sector  and  for  general  awareness  and  to  stop  the  use  of  antimicrobials  in animal  feed.  Veterinary  Council  of  India  has  also  issued  an  advisory  to  all  the  State  Veterinary Councils, and Universities to organize workshop on AMR during the world Veterinary Day celebration on 29 th April, 2017.

The  Regional  Disease  Diagnostic Laboratories (RDDLs),  Institutes under  Indian  Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Veterinary Colleges, State Disease Diagnostic Laboratories are performing Antimicrobial sensitivity test which is a part of antimicrobial surveillance.

(d)&(e)  The  CDSCO has informed that prescription  of  drugs  by  doctors  does  not  come  under  the purview of CDSCO.

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