Statement on United Nations Political Declaration on AMR

12 September 2024 – HealthforAnimals, the global animal health association, welcomes the final draft of the United Nations Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and the essential leadership it provides for global action against AMR. We applaud nations for developing a broad consensus for better animal health and disease prevention, alongside actions in human health and environment, as a core pathway to address AMR in a One Health manner.

This work can build upon the many years of action that has occurred within the animal health sector. For more than 20 years, Responsible Use Coalitions have brought together the value chain in key geographies to support sustainable reductions in the need to use for antibiotics. Animal health companies have set measurable goals, including bringing new prevention tools to market. Countries around the world have surveilled antibiotic use for decades and reported it to World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) to support better global understanding. The Political Declaration can bring renewed support for this work and encourage others to emulate it.

In particular, the animal health sector congratulates countries for creating a global consensus in three key areas:

• Disease prevention: Commitment for all nations to have animal vaccination strategies with defined implementation plans by 2030, recognizing “the need to prioritize and fund the implementation to prevent and control infections.”
• Science-based solutions: Call for creation of an ‘independent panel’ that can provide the scientific evidence necessary to address AMR in a One Health manner.
• Access to animal health tools: Commitment to “promote the timely supply of quality and affordable essential veterinary medicines, vaccines and diagnostics”, acknowledging the need to improve diagnostic use and increase the number of veterinarians, veterinary paraprofessionals and paraprofessionals globally.

Furthermore, the Declaration importantly recognizes that this work must take national contexts into consideration and builds upon existing agreements like the Codex Alimentarius Antimicrobial Resistance Standards.  The Animal Health Sector supports Codex standards, including those regarding the phase out of medically important antimicrobials for growth promotion and encouraging the prudent, responsible use of antimicrobials when used prophylactically.

The Animal Health sector looks forward to working with governments and stakeholders to implement the Declaration. Our recent report developed with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization – ‘How Prevention Can Reduce the Need for Antibiotics’ can provide valuable guidance for improving disease prevention, while investment in animal health systems and support for innovation can provide the necessary tools and infrastructure to achieve it. This work can help advance global AMR goals and improve the lives of animals and humans in the years to come.

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