Russia: Surge in use of illegal antibiotics in livestock feed

The problem of regulating of the use of drugs in the feed industry was discussed at round table talks ‘The search for the proper feeding of animals and birds’ between Russian veterinarians and business representatives.

According to the data by the All-Russian State Centre for Quality and Standardisation of Animal Drugs and Feed the problem of antibiotic use in animal feed has become more serious and the country needs special regulations in this area. “From the many Russian regions we receive feed contained drugs,” commented Elena Titova from the department of safety of feed and feed additives of the Center.

“We are detecting illegal antibiotics in feed or even too high levels of legal antibiotics on a regular basis. For instance, from some producers in the Primorsky Territory we received feed that contained such levels of antibiotics, which were equal to therapeutic doses. Moreover, in compound feed for laying hens we regularly found therapeutic doses of antibiotics, when in fact the use of antibiotics in Russia in feed for laying hens is prohibited by law,” she added.

According to Rosselhoznadzor the main problem with the fight against antibiotics in Russian feed is the lack of legislation in this area. In the very near future the Russian veterinary service intends to go to Russian lawmakers with several proposals to improve the situation, according to press-service of the department.