FAO facilitated a two-day meeting with experts on February 01 and 02, 2023 at New Delhi, to analyse and interpret the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance data generated by the Indian Network of Fisheries and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR) during 2019-2022. The meeting involved discussion between experts from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry and Dairying; State Department of Animal Husbandry, Himachal Pradesh; Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital - New Delhi, and FAO.

Two coordinators from INFAAR (fisheries and livestock) led the discussions that were focused on data analyses and formulating recommendations for future work. Key observations that emerged from this meeting were: i) AMR is widespread amongst the animal and fisheries sectors, ii) Few antimicrobials that are not in wide use in the human and animal sectors, showed low AMR in pathogens from animals, iii) high resistance was seen in isolates from animals’ samples for some of the antimicrobials which are in use predominantly in the health sector.

The group recognised that substantial surveillance work has been done through INFAAR. The reliability and quality of data was well-established because the FAO/USAID supported: intensive training to all members, strengthening of the data quality system, use of validated data management software (WHONET), participation in an external quality assessment scheme, and periodic review by the officially constituted INFAAR Advisory Board.

Accordingly, the expert group recommended to the INFAAR Advisory Board to consider this consolidated data as the database on the veterinary sector for AMR in India.