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NPPC joins global initiative on antibiotic use and stewardship

The National Pork Producers Council is joining a global initiative focused on antibiotic use and stewardship.

NPPC chief veterinarian Liz Wagstrom says the AMR Challenge brings together pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, livestock producers, government health officials, and leaders from around the world to protect food against unsafe veterinary drug residues.

“So NPPC looked at what it is we could do to commit to that AMR Challenge, and what we can do is be involved in the inter-governmental organization efforts to develop global standards and global guidelines.”

The international effort will focus on improving antibiotic uses, developing new vaccines, improving infection prevention, and enhancing antibiotic use data sharing and collection.

Wagstrom tells Brownfield these standards will help level the playing field around the world on what is appropriate stewardship of antibiotics, especially for use in food animals.

The World Organization for Animal Health and the U.N.’s Codex Commission will have final say on setting standards.