Brussels, 12 October 2022
EPRUMA is pleased to announce its newly elected chair Cat McLaughlin, member of the Copa Cogeca Working Party on Animal Health and Welfare and Chief Adviser for Animal Health and Welfare for the National Farmers Union (England and Wales). At the same time the platform welcomes EFFAB, the European farm animal breeders association as a new partner.
Representing the European farmers and cooperatives association Copa Cogeca, the new chair brings not only the farming experience but also several years of successfully leading the UK Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance (RUMA) covering all stages of the food chain from farm to fork.
On appointment Cat McLaughlin commented:
“The multi-stakeholder approach we are taking in Europe has led to Antibiotic Stewardship becoming a cornerstone of livestock farming today, with farmers, vets and other agricultural advisers working collaboratively to embed best practice for Responsible Use across all animal species. Efforts from the UK were recently recognised in a joint report from FAO and the UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, and I hope that with the shared experience and knowledge highlighted in the report I can bring a further boost for good stewardship all across the wider European region.”
Joining the eight long-term partners and the five national associate partners, the newly signed up partner EFFAB also adds further expertise to the platform in the area of animal breeding.
“The principle of Responsible Use of medicines in animals is based on a holistic approach for managing animal health and welfare, and breeding plays an important role therein. Through scientific advances in animal genetics, farm animals can be bred for robustness and improved health, with greater disease resistance and consequently less need to use medicines,” commented Ana Granados, Director of EFFAB.
The new expertise alongside the new head for EPRUMA comes at a pivotal moment when the use of antibiotics in animal health is still challenged despite the successes in Responsible Use being recognised both at European and international level. The decrease by more than 43% of the overall sales of veterinary antimicrobials between 2011 and 2022, shown in the latest ESVAC report from the European Medicines Agency, is clear testimony to the efforts taken so far. EPRUMA remains committed to ensuring continued antibiotic stewardship in the animal sector and fighting antimicrobial resistance through a One Health approach that takes into account the protection of human, animal and environmental health.
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