India moves to bar two classes of antibiotics for animal use
The Union Health Ministry has drafted a notification to prohibit carboxypenicillins and phosphonic acid derivatives in animals, aiming to curb antimicrobial resistance.
India’s Union Health Ministry is preparing a notification that would forbid the import, production, sale, distribution and application of animal-health products containing carboxypenicillins or phosphonic acid derivatives. The move is part of a broader effort to tighten antimicrobial-use regulations after the Drugs Technical Advisory Board recommended prohibiting 37 antimicrobials for veterinary purposes. The board noted that none of those drugs have been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for animal use, and most are reserved for human treatment in the European Union.
The draft specifically targets the two antibiotic groups after consulting the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Authorities argue that safer alternatives are available and that the ban will help reduce antimicrobial resistance and meet EU food-import standards.
Why it matters
Restricting these antibiotics in animals aims to lower antimicrobial resistance and meet international trade standards.
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