Central Government Proposes to Prohibit Certain Antimicrobials for Animal Use
Central Government has issued draft notification of SO 2298 (E) dated 22.05.2025 under which it proposes to prohibit import, manufacture, sale and distribution of 15 antibiotics, 18 antivirals and 1 antiprotozoals and group of antimicrobials and their formulations for animal use. Under the said notification, the Central Government has invited objections and suggestions from the persons and stakeholders likely to be affected. Objections and suggestions are required to be submitted to the Under Secretary (Drugs), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Room No. 545 A Wing, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi - 110011 or emailed at drugsdivmohfw@gov.in within the period of thirty days from the date of publication of the said notification.
The proposal is intended to take concrete measures to fight antimicrobial resistance and to promote responsible use of the antimicrobial medicinal products in animals. After deliberations, Central Government has considered it necessary as indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in animal is likely to involve risk to humans. The Drugs Technical Advisory Board has deliberated that safer alternatives to the 34 antimicrobials and their formulations for animal use are available and that in view of EU regulation 2022/1255, based on available scientific evidence, certain antimicrobials should be reserved only for treatment in humans.