Question : Indiscriminate use of Antibiotics in poultry

(a) whether the government is cognizant about the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in Indian poultry industry as a growth promoter thereby developing anti-microbial resistance, raising the risk of superbug/ diseases, and also posing a threat to the consumer of the poultry and animal meat;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken in this regard including promotion of technologies of free range chicken in the country; and
(c) whether any safety and hygiene standards have been laid down for poultry industry with a view to safeguarding the health of consumer and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (c): A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives journal has highlighted the use of antibiotic as growth promoters, leading to development of reservoirs of highly resistant bacteria on the studied farms.
Post stakeholders meet by ICMR on the issue, the expert group had recommended to ban the prophylactic use of colistin in poultry and livestock. DCGI has accordingly banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of colistin and its formulations for food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements in July 2019.

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has issued advisories to all States and UTs for judicious use of antibiotics in the treatment of food producing animals, and to refrain from using antibiotics in animal feed.
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