5 International standards for prudent use of antimicrobials
In AMR surveillance in animals, you learned about the global One Health response to AMR and the quadripartite partnership of WHO, WOAH, UNEP and FAO. In this section, we will briefly recap on the actions that have been under way since 2015 to encourage antimicrobial stewardship and the responsible use of antimicrobials.
Table 4 lists some of the more important global policy documents released since 2015. These policies have created the impetus for the One Health response to AMR. The policies listed in Table 4 are included for your interest or subsequent study and do not form part of the completion of this course.
| Date |
Publication/action |
Reference |
| 2015 |
WHO Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance |
(WHO, 2015a) |
| 2015 |
WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) |
(WHO, 2015b) |
| 2017 |
WHO guidelines on use of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals |
(WHO, 2017b) |
| 2017 |
WHO Guidance on Integrated Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in foodborne bacteria |
(WHO, 2017a) |
| 2021 |
The FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025 |
(FAO, 2021) |
| 2022 |
WOAH Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance and the Prudent Use of Antimicrobials |
(WOAH, 2022a) |
| 2022 and 2024 |
First report: WOAH Annual report on the use of antimicrobial agents in animals: A better understanding of the global situation. Subsequent annual reports are released annually |
(WOAH, 2022b), (WOAH, 2024) |
| 2024 |
High level meeting on antimicrobial resistance 2024 – General Assembly 79th Session (the UN adopted a declaration calling for all nations to respond to the global threat posed by AMR) |
(United Nations, 2024) |
| 2024 |
How prevention can reduce the need for antibiotics |
(FAO, 2024a) |
| 2024 |
Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials for Sustainable Agrifood System Transformation (RENOFARM) |
(FAO, 2024b) |
Table 4 International policies on AMS in people and food animals
