The UK pig industry is already fully committed to a programme of action to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the National Pig Association said as the Government outlined its stance on the issue.

On Friday (September 16), the Government published its response to Lord Jim O’Neill’s review on AMR.

It confirmed Defra’s commitment to a reduction in antibiotic use in livestock and fish farmed for food to an average across the sectors of 50mg/kg by 2018.

This compares with the most recent figure, from 2014, of 62mg/kg. Defra will work with individual sectors to ensure appropriate sector specific reduction targets are agreed by 2017.