CAC46 / A side session on reducing foodborne antimicrobial resistance

Global experts convened to address the critical issue of reducing foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the side event on 1 December 2023, as part of the 46th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC46) at FAO headquarters, Rome.  

The panelists discussed how Codex standards help to tackle foodborne AMR, the medically important antimicrobial list by the World Health Organization (WHO), and tools for risk communication about antimicrobial use in plants/crops. Furthermore, participants gained insights into the International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring (InFARM) system, which aims to support countries in collecting, analyzing and using their AMR data from animals and food. Panelists also emphasized the importance of working together to fight foodborne AMR. 

Dr. Clovice Kankya from Uganda shared findings from a study with smallholder dairy cattle livestock owners that was performed to identify the factors influencing antimicrobial misuse. “Disease prevention and biosecurity receive insufficient attention in the studied farms. The research highlights the important role of the private animal health sector in addressing AMR. Future interventions should target biosecurity practices and raise understanding of which practices lead to AMR", said Dr. Kankya. 

Diletta Topazio, FAO Food Safety Economist, presented economic perspectives on antimicrobial use in agrifood systems. She noted that AMR imposes an economic cost, and one of these costs comes in terms of trade. "It is essential to strike a balance between facilitating fair trade and ensuring responsible practices. Codex provides such guidance", Topazio noted.  

Junxia Song, Senior Animal Health Officer, highlighted the One Health approach in tackling foodborne AMR. She talked about the FAO Assessment Tool for Laboratories and AMR Surveillance Systems, FAO Progressive Management Pathway for AMR, the initiative “Reducing the need for antimicrobials on farms”, as well as quadripartite collaboration among different UN organizations, and AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership platform.   

A special part of the side event was dedicated to the FAO “Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT)” project, which works, at both the global and local levels, to support the implementation of Codex standards, especially those related to the containment and reduction of foodborne AMR and the monitoring and surveillance of foodborne AMR. Currently implemented in Asia and South America, the ACT project also provides a forum for different stakeholders to meet, discuss and collaborate.

Read more

Download "Foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR): an economic concern" here

Download the new brochure on #AMRCodexTexts here 

Learn more about the project here