Lok Sabha Question No. 1302 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Use of Antibiotics in Poultry Farms
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1302

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  JULY, 2024

## USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN POULTRY FARMS

## 1302 DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  several  poultry  farmers  in  the  country  are  resorting  to  the  preventive  use  of antibiotics  which  are  harmful  for  humans  for  augmenting  the  growth  of  poultry  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the extant rules and guidelines governing the use of antibiotics in poultry farms in the country; and
- (c) whether the Government has already banned such antibiotics and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a)  The  antibiotics  are  not  used  as  growth  promoters.  However,  it  has  been  reported that  many poultry farmers are using antimicrobials as non-therapeutic feed additives including  growth  promoters.  These  antimicrobials  are  also  inclusive  of  antibiotics which are also used for animal and human.
- (b) As per the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 1940, the antibiotics are scheduled H Drugs for which import, manufacture and sale of drugs requires license. The drugs are to be sold by the retailers  through prescription only. For use of antimicrobials in veterinary the same  needs  to  be  prescribed  by  the  registered  Veterinary  Practitioners.  In  order  to regulate  the  sale  of  antibiotics  the  Drugs  and  Cosmetic  Rules  were  amended  by  the Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  vide  Gazette  notification  G.S.R.  28(E)  dated 17.01.2012, to make a provisions that the container of a medicine for treatment of food producing  animals  shall  be  labeled  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 States/UTs for  judicious  use  of  antibiotics  in  livestock  sector.  CDSCO  has  also  issued  various Notices/Advisories/Letters to the State Drugs Regulations, and other stake holders for strict  compliance  of  the  requirements  of  Drugs  and  Cosmetic  Act  and  Rules  made thereunder and raising awareness in the public regarding adverse effects of misuse of antibiotics.  Further,  various  awareness  programmes  amongst  the  poultry  farmers through Poultry Associations are also being held.

(c) India has banned Colistin and its formulations on 19.07.2019 for manufacture, sale and distribution  for  food  producing  animals,  poultry,  aqua  farming  and  animal  feed supplements. As per the Food Safety and Standards Regulations during processing of meat and meat products, poultry and eggs, sea foods including shrimps, prawns or any variety  of  fish  and  fishery  products  the  use  of  antimicrobials  like  Nitrofurazone, Chloramphenicol, Furaltadone etc. are banned.

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