Why the CFIA advocates prudent use of antimicrobial drugs

Antimicrobials have long been successful against the microbes that make humans and animals sick – like bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. However, these microbes can adapt and survive antibiotics and antimicrobials.

This is called antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and the CFIA has joined the fight against AMR.

AMR is a complex and evolving issue, occurring in every country around the world. It is the root cause for why antibiotics are increasingly less effective in treating infections in both humans and animals.

The CFIA supports the prudent use of antimicrobials as they relate to animal health and welfare, livestock feeds, and food safety.

Collaboration – how the CFIA is involved

Microbes can adapt, but so can people, especially when they work together.

In the fall of 2017, the Government of Canada released a pan-Canadian framework to tackle AMR. This framework was developed under the leadership of the Public Health Agency of Canada in collaboration with the provinces and territories and other key stakeholders. It identifies opportunities for action in four areas: surveillance, stewardship, infection prevention and control, and research and innovation.

A pan-Canadian action plan is being developed with specific commitments, measurable outcomes, and timeframes to meet the objectives set out in the framework.

The CFIA has teamed up with Health Canada, provincial and territorial governments, veterinarians, drug manufacturers, livestock feed manufacturers, producers and academia to reduce antimicrobial use and AMR through a variety of activities, including:

• stronger regulations, policies and oversight of the manufacture and sale of medically important antimicrobials, including those used in livestock feed
• removal of growth promotion claims on all medically important antimicrobials
• increased oversight by veterinarians of antimicrobials, including moving all the medically important ones to the prescription drug list
• reduced need to treat animals with antibiotics by preventing disease and promoting animal health through good agricultural practices, including:
  • promotion of the use of vaccines;
  • development and implementation of biosecurity measures; and
  • improved animal nutrition

The CFIA has been working collaboratively with the veterinary community, animal producers and other stakeholders to improve data collection methods for monitoring antimicrobial use in animal feeds and livestock species.

As well, the CFIA is improving and supporting the development of methods for monitoring and surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial use in the agri-food sector. The Agency is exploring better ways of finding and characterizing resistant microbes along the food chain in fertilizers, animal feeds, and human foods.

Through research initiatives, the CFIA, along with its partners, is developing more advanced methods to better understand how food production contributes to the development of AMR in food-borne pathogens of human health concern.

Continuing to reduce AMR

Through the development of the pan-Canadian action plan, the CFIA and its partners are moving forward towards reducing the burden of AMR.

By working together, all stakeholders from the agriculture, animal health and human health sectors, can develop innovative solutions to mitigate the risk of AMR, reduce the need for antimicrobials, and preserve the effectiveness of available treatment options.

Learn more

• Science Fact Sheet: Antimicrobial Resistance
• Federal Action Plan
• Prevention of antibiotic resistance
• How is the CFIA contributing to the responsible use of medically important antimicrobials in animals?
• Government of Canada AMR page