The publication of two Codex standards on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) coincides with a study in the Lancet released on 19 January 2022 that describes AMR as “one of the leading public health threats of the 21st century”. The Lancet study emphasizes the need to address data gaps by expanding data collection which Codex is addressing through its new guidelines on integrated monitoring and surveillance of foodborne antimicrobial surveillance, adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in December 2021.

• An incredible achievement to complete work on new guidance on AMR surveillance
• Codex task force approves code of practice

Steve Wearne, Chairperson of the Commission said: “These guidelines will assist governments in the design and implementation of programmes that take into account national capacity and priorities.  Together with the Codex guidelines for risk analysis of foodborne antimicrobial resistance and code of practice to minimize and contain antimicrobial resistance, they provide resources that can be used in every country to improve our understanding of, and to help mitigate, this important human health threat.”

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Lancet study: Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis

Codex and AMR

Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Antimicrobial Resistance

Guidelines on integrated monitoring and surveillance of foodborne antimicrobial resistance

Photo credit: ©FAO/Luis Tato  FAO