The Development Law Service (LEGN) In collaboration with the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Quadripartite Organizations (UNEP, WHO and WOAH) in Latin America, and their legal teams in Ginevra and Paris, have conducted a regional workshop to present the “One Health Legislative Assessment Tool for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)”.

Part of the activities of the 2022 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, the workshop saw the participation of over 116 experts from the Latin America and Caribbean region, including representatives from the public health, animal health, plant health, pesticide management, food safety and the environmental sectors. 

The "One Health Legislative Assessment Tool for Antimicrobial Resistance" was developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE), with inputs from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the financial support of the Quadripartite Multi-Partner Trust Fund. The tool is in piloting phase and will be published in the second half of 2023.

Speakers highlighted the importance of joint and coordinated action across relevant sectors to prevent and curb AMR. The difference between sector-specific legislation (as human health, animal health, or environmental legislation) that can be implemented by one ministry, and cross-sectoral legislation that needs more than one Ministry to be implemented was underlined.

Most international AMR recommendations can be introduced into sector-specific legislation. As an exception, the establishment of a multisector governance mechanism is better achieved through broader AMR legislation, to be implemented by multiple ministries. Such legislation should not include sector-specific legal elements (for instance on medicines) as that would create legal fragmentation.

The workshop also discussed options to introduce a One Health approach into AMR relevant legislation. The establishment of a multi-sector AMR governance mechanism with participation of human health, animal health, and environment authorities is indeed a first step. However, this is not enough. The One Health approach should also be integrated into each sector, identifying opportunities for collaboration across sectors. Examples of such interventions are the coordination mechanisms for zoonosis management or the provisions on environmental pollution in human health or veterinary laws. 

For more information on this workshop and the legislative response to AMR, please write to: [email protected]