Ha Noi - FAO Viet Nam's Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), in collaboration with the Department of Animal Health (DAH), organized a Consultation Workshop entitled: ‘Viet Nam Action Plan for Antimicrobial Usage (AMU)/Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) reduction in Livestock Sector’ on 1 November 2016 in Hanoi. The aim of the workshop was to gather inputs, prioritize activities and prepare a work plan toward the development of a National Action Plan (NAP) for AMR and AMU reduction in livestock in Viet Nam. A total of 42 participants from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Ministry of Health (MoH), livestock producers and development partners participated in the one-day workshop.

Representatives from MARD and MOH shared their update on AMU/AMR management and legislation. Lucie Collineau, FAO international consultant, presented the outline of a draft NAP for AMU and AMR reduction in livestock production in Viet Nam. The participants then worked in groups to review the draft NAP and proposed additional activities. The proposed activities were prioritized using an on-line platform (Menti.com). Katharina Stärk, FAO international consultant, led the final plenary discussion on key components and future implementation of the NAP. 

During the workshop, the five key components of the NAP were agreed: 1) Revise policy and governance related to AMR and AMU in food and agriculture, 2) Increase awareness on AMR among food and agriculture professionals, farmers and the general public, 3) Implement good clinical and husbandry practices, 4) Develop capacity for surveillance of AMR and AMU in food and agriculture and 5) Facilitate inter-sectoral collaboration for the management of AMR.

Priority activities under the NAP were identified and include:

• Conduct a risk assessment on AMR/ AMU along the food chain which targets semi-industrial farms, identified as highest antimicrobials (AM) users. It should be noted that a list of AM agents will be banned for growth promotion from 1 January 2018. However, farmers may continue to mix AM in livestock feed on their own.

• Develop AM treatment guidelines in veterinary practice for selected groups of animal diseases. Presently, the Animal Health law require farmers to get a prescription from veterinarians to administrate AM. However, there is no list describing which AM agents or classes should be administered on prescription only. The enforcement of this law appeared to be difficult at this stage. 

• Develop continuing education programme on AMU and AMR for veterinarians and farmers. 

• Develop pathogen identification and susceptibility testing capacity in animal health laboratories. The laboratory capacity among the 7 Regional Animal Health Offices (RAHOs) is good but testing methodology needs to be standardized. 

• Develop a surveillance programme for AMR and AMU involving laboratories certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). AMR surveillance could be implemented first in pigs, chicken and aquaculture, which are the biggest livestock production sectors in Viet Nam. However, such programme would demand a huge financial investment based on previous experience with AM residue testing for aquaculture products exported to the European market. 

• Develop an AMR database to be shared among animal health and public health authorities. An AMR reference laboratory in animal health should be identified. The foreseen barriers for these activities include financial limitations, lack of standardized methodology and monitoring. 

• Plan and implement a Knowledge-Attitude- Practices (KAP) survey to better understand stakeholders’ knowledge, attitude and practices on AMU and AMR, and develop strategic communication interventions. Four groups were identified as a priority for awareness and risk communication activities, including producers/ farmers, leaders of feedings and veterinary medicine companies, veterinarians and consumers. 

• Identify AMR focal persons at the MARD Department of Animal Health (DAH), Drug Administration of Viet Nam, and Medical Services Administration to be in charge of coordination, information sharing and data integration.