News release
For immediate release
Fresh Animal Welfare Concerns Over “Growth Promoter” Ban Raised at Foulum Symposium
Brussels, Belgium, 07 November 2002: Disclosures at this week’s International Invitational Symposium in Foulum, Denmark reveal that there have been persistent problems with sickness among swine herds in Denmark since the removal of antibiotic “growth promoters” (AGPs) from feeds. Furthermore, fresh data presented at the symposium also showed that the removal of AGPs from feeds had not benefited human health, contrary to the opinions expressed by microbiologists before the ban took effect 3 years ago.
Mr. Edward Hird, Executive Board Member of FEDESA, expressed concern about the revelations, “We are very concerned about the suffering caused to animals,” he commented. “The lessons from Sweden and Denmark show that both pig and poultry farms encounter serious consequences from removing AGPs from feeds. Young pigs are suffering from
intestinal disease and poultry from leg infections and litter quality. It is also disturbing that these Danish experiences will potentially be exported to other countries in the absence of good alternatives to AGPs. Representatives from the European Union and the World Health Organisation who were present at the conference now have no option but to think very long and hard before making any further policy decisions over AGPs.”
He continued, “In addition to the disclosures at Foulum, new papers published this month by independent human microbiology and veterinarian experts strongly question the ‘perceived benefits’ of the changes that have been implemented in Denmark and Sweden. It is clear that considerably more research needs to be undertaken before these types of experiments are carried out elsewhere in the world, particularly in developing countries that, besides big financial burdens, face problems with diseases associated with the far hotter climates than is the case in the more temperate conditions in Scandinavia.”
The animal health industry understands the European Union’s philosophical concerns regarding the use of antibiotics in farming, but notes the danger from the events in Foulum over the potential for poor policy decisions being taken in the continued absence of science-based risk assessments. Addresses made at the symposium failed, for instance, to acknowledge that the Heidelberg Appeal Nederland Foundation report in March 1999 showed no link between antibiotic growth promoters and human health issues.
The animal health industry believes that Europe’s farming industries and animals can only stand to benefit from the undertaking of thorough risk assessments before any decisions are taken over the use of AGPs.
In conclusion, Mr. Hird said: “Despite the fact that there was a clear majority of speakers and attendees from Denmark at the symposium, strong evidence about the detrimental effects on animal welfare came through loud and clear from people with first-hand experience of looking after animals. There is a lesson to be learned from the experiences in Sweden and Denmark, and that is to ignore the inherent and true value of science carries unpredictable risks.”
Ends
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The title and authors of the three papers are:
1) The European ban on growth-promoting antibiotics and its consequences for animal and human health
Mark Casewell, Emeritus Professor of Medical Microbiology (UK); Christian Friis, Professor of Veterinary Medicine (Denmark); Enrico Marco Granell, Swine Practitioner (Spain); Paul McMullin, Poultry Practitioner (UK) and Ian Phillips, Emeritus Professor of Medical Microbiology (UK). November 2002 2) Effects of growth promoter withdrawal in Spain
Enrico Marco Granell, Swine Practitioner. 01 November 2002
3) Removal of antimicrobial growth promoters from commercial broiler production: A brief review with particular reference to the UK
Paul McMullin, MVB DPMP MRCVS. 31 October 2002
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