29 Oct 2018 --- MEPs have backed plans to stop the spread of drug resistance from animals to humans by curbing the use of antibiotics on farms, keeping drug-resistant bacteria out of food. Veterinary medicines must not under any circumstances serve to improve the performance or compensate for poor animal husbandry, says the new law. It would limit the use of antimicrobials as a preventive measure, in the absence of clinical signs of infection (known as prophylactic use) to single animals and not groups. The drugs can be used only when fully justified by a veterinarian in cases where there is a high risk of infection.
