Monitoring of sales of veterinary antibiotics
Since 2010, France, via the National Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, has been transmitting antibiotic sales data to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The aim is to collect harmonised antibiotic sales data in all EU countries (ESUAvet reports).
Since 2022, the collection of data on sales of veterinary medicinal products has been extended to all antimicrobials (including antibiotics, antifungals and antiprotozoa).
The monitoring of sales of antimicrobials for veterinary use is an essential tool for assessing their use and monitoring the evolution of antibiotic therapy practices in different animal species. As long as usage monitoring does not allow comprehensive collection of usage data from veterinarians, pharmacists and operators of medicated feed, this sales monitoring remains the main tool to have an overall view of uses at national level.
The information collected is essential, in addition to the monitoring of bacterial resistance, to allow an assessment of the risks associated with antibiotic resistance.
This information also makes it possible to propose appropriate management measures and to assess their effects over time.
The monitoring of sales of antimicrobials for veterinary use is based on an annual declaration of sales of medicinal products by marketing authorisation holders. These reports shall include an estimate of the distribution of sales by animal species. The data collected covers all authorised veterinary medicinal products containing antimicrobials and can be cross-checked with other sources of information (turnover reports, prescription surveys, etc.).
Sales volumes of antimicrobials alone do not directly reflect their use. Indeed, recent antimicrobials are more active and require lower doses. To assess the exposure of animals to antibiotics, it is necessary to take into account several parameters: dosage, duration of administration, but also the evolution of animal populations. The ALEA (Animal Level of Exposure to Antimicrobials) is the indicator calculated to estimate the level of exposure of animals to antimicrobials.
A tool at the service of Ecoantibio plans
Monitoring sales makes it possible to measure concretely the progress made in the fight against antibiotic resistance. The Ecoantibio 1 (2012-2016) and Ecoantibio 2 (2017-2022) plans, thanks to the commitment of all relevant stakeholders, resulted in a 49% reduction in the overall exposure of animals to antibiotics between 2011 and 2024.
The Ecoantibio 3 plan (2023-2028), led by the Directorate-General for Food (DGAl), is a continuation of this dynamic. It aims to maintain current levels of exposure of productive animals to antibiotics and sets a specific target of a 15% reduction in exposure of dogs and cats by 2028. The achievement of these objectives will be measured through the monitoring of sales of veterinary medicinal products containing antimicrobials.
Comparing France to other European countries, the amount of antibiotics sold relative to the European reference denominator in 2023 was 16.2 mg/kg for France when the average for the 27 European countries transmitting their sales was 43.8 mg/kg (ESUAvet reports ). Most European countries are committed to reducing the use of antibiotics.