The "Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT)" project leveraged World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2023 as an opportunity to highlight the key role of prevention in tackling the issue of drug-resistant infections transmitted through food. During WAAW 2023 the ACT project supported the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Cambodia, Colombia, Mongolia, Nepal, and Pakistan to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and foster collaboration with stakeholders. Bolivia and Colombia prioritized strengthening inter-institutional work In coordination with the government agencies, FAO [...]

Global experts convened to address the critical issue of reducing foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the side event on 1 December 2023, as part of the 46th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC46) at FAO headquarters, Rome.   The panelists discussed how Codex standards help to tackle foodborne AMR, the medically important antimicrobial list by the World Health Organization (WHO), and tools for risk communication about antimicrobial use in plants/crops. Furthermore, participants gained insights into the International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring [...]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a new brochure "How can Codex standards help tackle foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?" which explains how Codex standards help tackle foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This new reference document describes the three core texts Codex has developed specifically on foodborne AMR: The Guidelines for Risk Analysis of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (CXG 77-2011) enable countries to identify issues specific to their own contexts, establish priorities and implement targeted interventions. The Guidelines on the [...]

Six new factsheets were recently published to promote how the “Action to support implementation of Codex AMR (ACT)” project countries work to address foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR). “Managing AMR poses a significant challenge for the world. One way AMR can spread to humans is through food, known as foodborne AMR. Unfortunately, every day, unsafe food causes illnesses and deaths. We work globally and locally to address foodborne AMR through the implementation of Codex AMR texts, and these factsheets provide a snapshot [...]

World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2023, 18 - 24 November, a global initiative to raise awareness and encourage action to tackle the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens, is starting today.  Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a threat to humans, animals, plants, and the environment, and it affects everyone. The theme for WAAW 2023, maintained from 2022 is: "Preventing antimicrobial resistance together". The theme emphasizes the need for a One Health approach involving multiple sectors to preserve the efficacy of antimicrobials. Addressing AMR requires collective efforts [...]

The representatives from the Plurinational State of Bolivia discussed the next steps in addressing foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as part of the “Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT)” project. Thirty-five people from different government departments, associations, the private sector and academia met on 23-25 October 2023 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. “This workshop allowed us to reach commitments among different stakeholders. The participants agreed to establish a sectoral committee for AMR, a laboratory network for AMR in animal health, [...]

FAO Pakistan, in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry Commissioner Office of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, conducted a three-day workshop on Codex standards and foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR). More than 40 participants from federal and provincial livestock departments, food authorities and other relevant departmentsattended thistraining of trainerson 23-25 October 2023 in Islamabad. This was the first-ever workshop to raise awareness among field veterinarians and food authorities on Codex and AMR.    “Understanding Codex standardsis criticalfor well-being and achieving the Sustainable Development [...]

FAO Cambodia, in collaboration with the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute of the Government of Cambodia, trained 40 stakeholders from the livestock sector about the ways to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and implement related Codex guidelines. Such workshop of trainers was organized for the first time in the country for veterinarians and animal farmer trainers, taking place on 18 and 19 October 2023 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.    “This training is crucial for our future, and I am pleased more people will [...]

FAO Pakistan hosted a roadmap workshop to discuss priorities in addressing foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 11 September 2023. The event took place under the “Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT)” project, with more than 60 participants from Pakistan, the ACT project coordinators in Cambodia and Nepal, and the regional coordinator for Asia. “This mission allowed all of those involved in the project to get a clear understanding of the current antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial [...]

Nepal assessed the ability to test for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in food samples by its central food safety laboratory as part of the “Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT)” project. Related laboratory visits, workshops and stakeholder meetings took place in Katmandu from 19 to 21 September 2023. “This assessment and training helped us to understand the areas we need to improve to strengthen the AMR surveillance in the food sector", saidMatina Joshi Vaidya, Director-General of the Department of [...]