Policy Mixes to Control Anti-microbial Resistance in Livestock Production: A Comparative Analysis of National Action Plan Implementation in Relevant Countries

Policy strategies targeting imprudent antimicrobial (AM) use (AMU) in livestock farming have been set at the global and country levels, by recognizing risks from AM resistance (AMR). Within the framework of the European Project ROADMAP, this study evaluates the strategies addressing AMU and AMR in animal farms and the food supply-chain in the EU countries. The objective is to provide evidence that can support the plan of actions of the EU Farm to Fork strategies by using AMU data from the EMA-ESVAC database and the TrACSS survey, where participating countries self-assess their own policies in the areas of awareness, evidence, governance, and practices related to farm AMU and AMR. The results make it evident the possibility to overcome the trade-off between a reduced AMU and production performances. The achievements in reducing AMU are the outcomes of several main contributing factors: long experience of evidence-based guideline implementation, strong participatory local commitment, and integration between actions at local and national levels.