Improved supervision of antibiotics for animals

The Riksdag voted in favour of a legislative proposal from the Government, that will require veterinary surgeons to submit data to the Swedish Board of Agriculture when animals are treated with antimicrobial medicinal products, such as antibiotics. The purpose is to improve supervision of antibiotics use for the treatment of animals.

According to the proposal, the Government, or the public agency assigned with the task, may decide what data veterinary surgeons are to submit to the Swedish Board of Agriculture regarding treatment of animals with antimicrobial medicinal products. The Government, or the public agency, may also adopt rules to limit the use of such medicinal products. The use of certain medicinal products may, for example, be prohibited. The legislative amendment also means that shops must have a licence in order to sell antimicrobial medicinal products for animals.

The Government’s proposals are based on two regulations on medicinal products for animals that were adopted by the EU in December 2018. The amendments are one step in adapting current legislation in Sweden to the EU rules. The new law will apply from 1 April 2023.