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Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting in collaboration with OIE on Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance: Role of the Environment, Crops and Biocides

Meeting report

Year of publication 2019

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 62

Author FAO/WHO

Publisher FAO and WHO ;

Product type Book (series)

ISBN 978-92-5-131890-4

Series title Microbiological Risk Assessment Series

Series number 34

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Responding to the request from the 39th Session Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and the ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (TFAMR) for information about antimimcrobial resistance, this report provides scientific advice on the subject derived from a joint “FAO/WHO expert meeting on foodborne antimicrobial resistance: role of environment, crops and biocides” on 11-15 June 2018 in Rome, Italy. There is clear scientific evidence that foods of plant origin may serve as a vehicle of foodborne exposure to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Aquaculture products can also carry bacteria that are resistant to medically important antimicrobials. As such, concerted efforts should be made to mitigate their contamination at all stages of the food chain, from production to consumption. Notably, antimicrobials should only be used in crop production according to label guidelines in the context of integrated pest management strategies. To improve food safety, best management practices should be adhered to with respect to the use of human and animal wastes for soil amendment purposes and for the prevention of environmental contamination where aquatic animals are raised for food. Foods of plant and aquatic animal origin food incorporated in to integrated surveillance plans for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring. Because of the theoretical potential for disinfecting chemical to co-select for AMR, biocides should be used according to manufacturers’ recommendations.

Cite this content as:

FAO and WHO. 2019. Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting in collaboration with OIE on Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance: Role of the Environment, Crops and Biocides – Meeting report. Microbiological Risk Assessment Series no. 34. Rome.


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