India bans 37 antimicrobials in livestock to curb drug residues and AMR

INDIA – The Government of India has banned the use of 37 antimicrobial drugs, including 18 antibiotics, 18 antivirals, and one anti-protozoan, in the treatment and production cycle of various livestock and animal products, a move designed to protect public health and align with international food safety standards.

Announced by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through an official notification, the ban targets the use of these substances in egg-laying birds, milch animals, honeybees, and livestock, including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and pigs, primarily where intestines are harvested or animal casings are processed. 

The directive also explicitly prohibits the use of any antimicrobial medicinal product to promote growth or increase yield.

The new measure, enacted under the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963, introduces two critical amendments to an earlier order dated November 9, 2020. 

First, it outlaws the use of antimicrobials solely for production enhancement. Second, it prohibits the use of specific antimicrobial agents at any stage of milk, milk products, egg, honey, and animal casings production or processing.

The ministry stated, “The use of any antimicrobial medicinal product for the purpose of promoting growth or to increase yield shall be prohibited.” 

It further clarified that the banned substances must not be administered to animals from which products are derived or used at any point in the production chain.

Among the banned drugs are several classified by the World Health Organization as “critically important” for human medicine. 

These include antibiotics such as carbapenems, glycopeptides, and oxazolidinones; antivirals like favipiravir and molnupiravir; and the anti-protozoan nitazoxanide.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance

The ban responds to escalating concerns over antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and drug residues in food products, which have been linked to allergic reactions, long-term health impacts, and a rise in drug-resistant infections. 

A Veterinary World study published by the National Institutes of Health emphasised that excessive antimicrobial use in animals remains a primary driver of these risks.

India’s livestock sector, which includes over 1.3 billion animals, is a significant consumer of antimicrobials, accounting for about 3% of global antibiotic use. That figure is expected to rise by 82% by 2030, according to FAOSTAT, the statistical arm of the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

By tightening controls on veterinary drug use, India aims to ensure safer animal-derived foods for consumers and strengthen its position in global agricultural exports, particularly as importing countries continue to enforce stricter residue limits.

The move also underscores India’s commitment to combating AMR through a One Health approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health in policymaking.

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