Antibiotics in chicken meat: CSE demands proper regulation

New Delhi: With the Indian Medical Association (IMA) echoing recommendations of CSE for banning the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry industry, the environment body on Friday said it has started writing to various state as well as Central authorities to address the issue. [caption id=“attachment_1646137” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said regulatory vacuum is the primary reason why the poultry industry is rampantly misusing antibiotics. “CSE believes that this is first step in the right direction. The regulatory vacuum is the primary reason why the poultry industry is rampantly misusing antibiotics,” Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General of CSE, said. “CSE has started writing to various Central and state government functionaries, highlighting the concerns and the action that needs to be taken to address this major public health issue,” he said. CSE had conducted study across Delhi and NCR region and tested 70 chicken samples for six commonly used antibiotics during a recent study. While 40 percent tested positive, residues of more than one antibiotic were found in 17 percent samples. The study found that the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in chicken production was contributing to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in India. IMA had on Thursday called for a ban on use of antibiotics for growth promotion and mass disease prevention in poultry. It said that it should only be used to cure the sick based on prescription of veterinarians. “The problem was long suspected by public health experts. Our study has provided evidence of the strong linkage between antibiotic resistance and antibiotic misuse in food-producing animals such as chicken. “Now, the medical community and IMA have come up and strongly supported our viewpoint. It will help address the cause,” Bhushan said. Meanwhile CSE claimed the Central Advisory Committee of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also discussed the matter on Friday. “It was agreed that states will start surveillance on the issue and FSSAI has also agreed to review the regulatory gaps,” CSE claimed. PTI