Fight against Antimicrobial Resistance: Commission welcomes EMA’s scientific advice on antimicrobials reserved for treating humans

Today, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published a crucial scientific advice in the fight against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). It contains the experts’ recommendations on antimicrobials and groups of antimicrobials, that are to be reserved exclusively for treating infections in people, since the use of antimicrobials in animals contributes to the development of AMR. This science-based analysis, the first of its kind in the world, has systematically assessed all types of antimicrobials. It paves the way for the upcoming adoption of a legislation listing the antimicrobials, which will be reserved for humans. EMA’s advice comes at the request of the Commission and has been put together by a panel of leading experts comprising medical doctors, microbiologists and veterinarians. It has already been endorsed by the Agency’s Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) which is composed of representatives from the Member States’ competent authorities. Discussions with the Member States on the timely adoption of the antimicrobials list will start soon. You can find more information on the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation in our Q&A, as well as on our dedicated AMR webpage.