Vietnam tightens controls on antibiotic use in livestock farming

VIETNAM – Vietnam is sharply increasing penalties for the misuse of veterinary drugs and banned antibiotics in a sweeping effort to improve food safety and protect public health, according to the Ministry of Health. 

The move responds to persistent violations across the livestock and feed sectors and growing concern over antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Authorities say the strongest focus will be on farms and feed mills using prohibited veterinary medications. 

Under the new measures, fines for detecting banned antibiotics will rise to VND80 million (US$3,000). 

Penalties for chemicals or drugs used above permitted limits will be raised by 50% to VND60 million (about US$2,250). 

Officials argue that higher fines are needed to deter widespread risky practices, including the use of toxic chemicals, pesticides, and substances long outlawed in animal production.

Every year, Vietnam records thousands of food poisoning cases and hospital admissions linked to unsafe foods, according to Nha Chan Nuoi. 

To address these risks, the government is also calling for more rigorous inspections and tighter monitoring across the feed and livestock value chain. 

Proposals include QR code-based testing and digital traceability systems designed to keep unsanitary meat out of markets.

Growing global pressure on antibiotic use

The announcement comes as global demand for animal-derived products intensifies. According to FACT MR, the global animal antibiotics market is projected to grow from US$6.61 billion in 2024 to US$20.46 billion by 2034, driven by high-density livestock systems that rely heavily on antibiotics to maintain animal health.

Yet inappropriate antibiotic use is placing livestock systems globally, including in Vietnam, at mounting risk.

A recent report from the Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health at the University of Oxford found that one-third of antibiotics used for human health in the country were “inappropriate,” often taken at high doses or without medical necessity. 

Self-prescription was common, and many sellers lacked qualifications to dispense drugs responsibly. “As a result, the nation is running out of treatment options,” the report warned.

Raising public awareness of AMR through simple, visual communication tools is one of the strategies recommended to reverse the trend.

FAO initiative shows antibiotic-free success

Despite these challenges, promising progress has emerged from a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) project on poultry farming. 

Through the agency’s Farmer School Community initiative, almost all 30 participating poultry flocks reported excellent feed conversion, mortality below 1% and healthier birds, while cutting antibiotic use by 34%. Two of the three farmer schools eliminated antibiotics entirely.

“The approach was based on ‘start with what the farmers have,’” the FAO noted, emphasizing that producers retained control over their breeds and feeds while improving biosecurity and organic practices. 

The programme, supported by the U.K. Fleming Fund, involved three farmer field schools with 10 poultry units each, raising 1,000–5,000 coloured-feather chickens.

FAO concluded that the project not only reduced antibiotic reliance but also strengthened community resilience against AMR, an approach increasingly adopted by livestock feed industries worldwide.

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