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MEPs vote to curb antibiotic use in farming
chickens
MEPs voted to prohibit the use of preventative antibiotics to single animals, and only when this is deemed 'fully justifiable' by a veterinary surgeon.
Calls for ban on preventative and collective use of antibiotics
 
The use of antibiotics in farming could be restricted after MEPs voted in favour of draft plans to change an EU law on veterinary medicines.

Specifically, MEPs called for a ban on the preventative use of antibiotics, restrictions on their collective use and a ban on drugs that are critically important for human medicine.

"The fight against antibiotic resistance must start on farms," said French MEP Françoise Grossetête. "We wish to prohibit the purely preventive use of antibiotics, restrict collective treatment to very specific cases, prohibit the veterinary use of antibiotics that are critically important for human medicine and put an end to online sales of antibiotics, vaccines and psychotropic substances.

"Thanks to these measures, we hope to reduce the amounts of antibiotics found on consumers’ plates."

MEPs voted to prohibit the use of preventative antibiotics to single animals, and only when this is deemed 'fully justifiable' by a veterinary surgeon.

"However we need not reduce the therapeutic arsenal available to vets," added Françoise Grossetête. "This law aims to facilitate their work. It is absolutely necessary to encourage research and innovation in this sector."

The revised law would also empower the European Commission to select antimicrobials that must be reserved for the treatment of humans.

MEPs also supported plans to encourage research into new antimicrobials, including longer periods of protection for technical documentation on new medicines, commercial protection of innovative active substances, and protection for significant investments in data generated to improve a drug or keep it on the market.

The proposals will now be considered by the council of ministers.

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Milk recalled over presence of veterinary medicines

Graham's Family Dairy has issued a recall for its semi-skimmed milk due to the presence of veterinary medicines in the product.

In a risk statement, the Food Standards Agency said the presence of the medicines, including penicillin, make the milk unsafe to consume and 'may be a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to antibiotics'.

Customers who bought the product are advised to return it to the store of purchase for a full refund.