Health Canada Proposes New Measures to Address Antimicrobial Resistance

20 Apr 2015 --- Health Canada intends to propose new measures and strengthen regulations to encourage prudent use of antimicrobial drugs used in food-producing animals, particularly drugs that are considered medically important. This effort is important to minimize the global emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and conserve the effectiveness of available antimicrobials. These actions will protect public health and food safety, and align with other countries.

Health Canada has already made substantial progress in working with the pharmaceutical industry to phase out all growth promotion claims of medically-important antimicrobial drugs by December 2016. In addition, Health Canada plans to:
•Propose amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations to address personal use importation of veterinary drugs, and strengthen the control over the importation of veterinary active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs); and
•Continue to work with stakeholders to increase the appropriate veterinary oversight with respect to access to all medically-important antimicrobial drugs that are used in livestock drinking water and feeds. This measure will require further amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations and the Feeds Regulations.

These initiatives are part of the Government of Canada's recently released Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Use in Canada, which builds on the Federal Framework for Action announced in October 2014. The Department will continue to engage partners and stakeholders while the proposed amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations are being developed and further actions on AMR are being implemented.

Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health said: "Health Canada continues to work with stakeholders towards the common goal of minimizing the emergence of global antimicrobial resistance by putting in place better controls over antimicrobial use in food-producing animals. The measures we are announcing today reflect our commitment to the important issue of antimicrobial resistance and to keeping our food supply safe."

Rob McNabb, General Manager, Operations, Canadian Cattlemen's Association and Co-Chair, National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Council said: "The proposed changes to the regulatory framework are consistent with the Canadian Cattlemen's Association's existing efforts to encourage prudent drug use, and complement the AMR initiatives that the Council has been working on in support of the Federal Framework for Action on antimicrobial resistance."

Antibiotic use in animals plays an important role in ensuring animal welfare and protecting animals and public health. Before being authorized for sale in Canada, veterinary antibiotics are assessed by Health Canada for their potential antibiotic resistance risk. Health Canada specifies the conditions of use of antibiotics on the product labels and includes warning statements specific to reducing AMR. No new antibiotic growth promoters have been authorized by Health Canada in more than a decade.