A government agency in Canada is proposing stronger rules for antimicrobial drugs to combat antimicrobial resistance. Health Canada, the nation’s government department responsible for national public health, proposed the regulations last week.
The department is seeking feedback on a regulatory proposal that would strengthen rules governing the importation, sale and use of antibiotics in livestock. In a news release, Health Canada said the decreasing effectiveness of antibiotics is having a significant impact on the department’s ability to protect people from infectious diseases. The department says antibiotics also have profound impacts on Canada’s healthcare system, global trade, agriculture, environment and health sectors. The proposed changes would restrict the importation of certain veterinary drugs, require drug manufacturers to follow stricter rules, require the provision of sales information to regulators to allow for improved monitoring of antimicrobial use, and introduce an easier way for manufacturers to sell low-risk veterinary health products.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service