The National Pig Association (NPA) has welcomed the “encouraging new data” contained in today’s VARSS report, which confirmed that a significant reduction in sales of antibiotics has been achieved by the pig industry.
In addition to the report’s headline figure that sales of antibiotics for use in all animals reduced by 9% in 2015, the VARSS document also shows that sales of products licensed for both pigs and poultry fell by 10% in the last year.
In relation to sales of products licensed for pigs only, meanwhile, the recorded fall is even more impressive at 24%, registering the biggest fall across all the sectors.
“We are encouraged by these figures, which show the pig sector is pulling its weight and is taking the challenge of reducing and refining antibiotic usage seriously,” said NPA chief executive Dr Zoe Davies.
“We fully expect to see further reductions in 2016 and are committed to meeting the challenge of new targets that come our way. We will continue to press for these to be workable and proportionate.”