Department of Livestock Development (DLD) in the collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and related stakeholders has organised an event so‑called "Livestock Stakeholders Handle Antibiotics with Care." This event has been presided over by Director General (DG) of Department of Livestock Development (DLD), Dr. Sorravis Thaneto. The president confered the certificates to the farmers qualified for the "Raised Antibiotics Without Antibiotics (RWA).” The tripartite FAO/OIE/WHO delegates have pledged the statement and policy upon the Global AMR Containment at 9.00 am on 16 November 2018 at Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
Dr. Sorravis Thaneto, DG of DLD, addressed that the antimicrobial, commonly known as antibiotics, is primarily and necessarily used to treat infectious diseases of both human and animal. Upon misuse and excessive use of antimicrobial, the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could be problematic. Currently, AMR is deemed a major public health threat. The underlying etiology of AMR is multifactorial. Human, animal and the environment are key factors of AMR as a whole. Thai government has emphasized and focused on the AMR containment, thus initiating the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on AMR for 2017-2021. For the livestock production, the ultimate goal is set to reduce the antimicrobial use as low as 30% by the end of 2021. The DLD has urged the livestock farmers and veterinarians to practice the optimal and prudent use of antimicrobial. Recently, DLD has been putting the enforcement in action partly by regulating the addition of antimicrobial into the animal feed known as “medicated feed.” Adding antimicrobials into the animal feed can only be prescribed by authorities e.g. veterinarians. Meanwhile, thanks to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the special project namely "Raised Without Antibiotics" (RWA) on 30 April this year, livestock farmers in Thailand have been encouraged to minimize the use of antibiotics.
This special event was initiated in accordance with the global campaign on "The World Antibiotics Awareness Week (WAAW). Various stakeholders such as government sector, feed mill manufacturer, animal husbandry, veterinary drug distributor and livestock farmers have gathered together to raise the antibiotic awareness. Once again DG of DLD has urged all stakeholders to participate in the prudent use of antimicrobial, thus reducing the problematic AMR. Taken aforementioned AMR mitigation measures all together, animal products produced in Thailand shall be trusted and safe for both Thai and world population.
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Information/report by Dr. Julaporn Srinha (Veterinarian), Division of Animal Feed and Veterinary Product Control, Department of Livestock Development