Welsh government continues fight against antimicrobial resistance

The Welsh government has announced plans to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals across Wales for the next five years, with a cash injection and a new advisory group to achieve its goals.

Resistance to antibiotics continues to be a problem, not just for farmers and vets, but for wider society. Animal keepers and veterinarians are therefore urged to work together to combat this global challenge.

See also: Antibiotics resistance reaches 10-year low in food production

A cash boost of £2m has been allocated to support the work of the Arwain DGC (Defnydd Gwrthfaicrobaidd Cyfrifol) consortium.

This will support vital monitoring, training and engagement work to ensure antibiotics remain effective.

The funding will support phase three of the Arwain programme, which will include:

• Continuing the veterinary prescribing champions network across 44 Welsh veterinary practices
• Continuing to collect antimicrobial usage data from at least 4,500 Welsh farms
• Monitoring AMR in cattle and sheep through on-farm sampling
• Establishing a new AMR academy to provide targeted training for veterinary professionals and farmers.

Providing expert advice is a new Wales AMR animal health group, which will support the strategy.

A new control plan for Wales that aligns with the UK national action plan has also been put in place.

The Welsh government says it will continue to work with public health and research and surveillance counterparts, applying a “One Health” approach.

Deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: “This new phase of the programme will allow us to continue positioning Wales as a world leader in efforts aimed at addressing AMR and the responsible use of antibiotics.”

Direct risks

Wales’ chief veterinary officer, Richard Irvine, said: “Drug-resistant organisms pose direct risks to both people and animals, and can spread through the environment, which is why our One Health approach – bringing together public health, animal health and the environment – is crucial.”

Recent data from Defra has shown that the UK is making great strides in lowering its use of antibiotics in food-producing animals.

Figures published in the UK Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance (VARSS) report in November 2024 highlighted that antibiotic sales for use in food-producing animals had shown a 59% reduction since 2014.

Sales of antibiotics of highest critical importance to human health also remained at extremely low levels, accounting for less than 0.5% of total veterinary antibiotics sales.

NFU Cymru response

NFU Cymru welcomed the additional funding and new expert group, which will allow the work to tackle antimicrobial resistance to continue.

“Welsh farmers produce to world leading standards and part of this is the proactive approach we take to the responsible use of medicines. This extra funding will allow the project to continue its important work and will also help us to evidence to consumers at home and abroad the quality of Welsh food and drink,” said NFU Cymru deputy president Abi Reader.