68110 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister for Food Safety

68110 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister for Food Safety: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter April to June 2024 to ‘Encourage alternative approaches to reduce infection and the need for antimicrobial use in animals’ under ‘Objective 3: Infection Prevention and Control’ within the New Zealand Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan 2017?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: I refer the member to the response for WPQ 68108 (2024). Total sales of veterinary and horticultural antibiotics in New Zealand are down for a sixth year running, see more here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news/media-releases/sales-of-antibiotics-used-in-animals-and-plants-down-for-sixth-year-in-a-row/. The activity to “Encourage alternative approaches to reduce infection and the need for antimicrobial use in animals” has been allocated to key industry bodies; with the expected deliverable they will review alternative treatments, and management practices as an ongoing activity, along with monitoring of international Infection Prevention and Control best practices. These industry plans will be reported on to the Ministry for Primary Industries annually.