Centre bans import, sale of 2 antibiotic classes for use in animal rearing

Health ministry bans use of all formulations containing chloramphenicol and nitrofurans in any food-producing animal rearing system over concerns of misuse

The Centre on Thursday banned the import, manufacture, sale, and distribution of all formulations containing chloramphenicol or the nitrofurans class of antibiotics for use in food-producing animal rearing.

 

In a gazette notification dated March 13, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced that the prohibition comes into effect after consultations with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, India’s top drug advisory body.

 

Calling the step necessary and expedient in the public interest, the ministry said that it is satisfied that the use of drug formulations containing chloramphenicol or nitrofurans is likely to pose risks in food-producing animal rearing.

 

It was also observed that several safer alternatives to these drugs are available in the market.

 

The ban follows multiple representations highlighting the misuse of these drugs in poultry and other animal feed supplements. The matter was also discussed by the Drugs Consultative Committee in January last year.

 

The committee agreed with the proposal to ban the import, production, distribution, and sale of these drugs.

 

The Marine Products Export Development Authority had also submitted a representation to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in October 2023, raising the same concerns. The matter was subsequently considered by the Empowered Committee on Animal Health.

 

In 2018, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had also banned the use of several antibiotics and veterinary drugs, including chloramphenicol and nitrofurans, in processing meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, and fishery products.

 

Both antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial and urinary infections in humans as well.

 

Chloramphenicol, which inhibits bacterial protein production and growth, is used to treat various bacterial infections but can cause side effects, including bone marrow suppression and diarrhoea.

 

Similarly, nitrofurans, a class of antibiotics used to treat urinary infections, are also employed as antibacterials in food-producing animals.