The FAO-implemented and Republic of Korea-funded Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts - or ACT - project is being implemented in six countries. One of the project countries is Nepal, where the significant poultry sector, which contributes four percent to the country’s gross domestic product, is thought to be one of the main drivers of foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as a result of the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Expenditure on antimicrobials is rapidly increasing in the sector, [...]

In a bid to help countries address the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), FAO developed an Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025. The Plan outlines five key areas of focus – of which one aims at supporting countries to strengthen surveillance and research for evidence-based decisions on AMR in the food and agriculture sectors. This work is now aided by the newly launched International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring (InFARM) system, which helps countries improve capacities to collect, collate, analyse, [...]

A new success story has been published highlighting some achievements of the Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT) project in the Plurinational State of Bolivia. The ACT project is working to help six countries improve surveillance, governance, awareness and best practices to minimize and contain foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This success story focuses on the establishment by the Government of Bolivia of a multisectoral AMR containment committee, CC-RAM, and efforts by various stakeholders to improve surveillance and monitoring [...]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Pakistan along with local and international partners organized a national dialogue on food safety on 7 June 2024 in Islamabad. Their Excellencies the Ambassadors to Pakistan of Denmark and Malaysia graced the occasion, as well as representatives of the Federal and Provincial Food Safety Authorities, relevant Federal Ministries, Animal Husbandry Commissioner and Chief Veterinary Officer of Pakistan, civil society, media, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Islamabad [...]

The FAO-implemented and Republic of Korea-funded Action to support implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT) project has conducted a pilot exercise in Nepal to assess the country’s legislation as it pertains to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Antimicrobial Use (AMU) in the country. The exercise involved an assessment tool, known as the ACT Tool, that helps to identify the strengths in a country’s legislation relevant to AMR and AMU, as well as aspects of legislation that could be improved. This tool [...]

The first in a new series of “Success Stories” has been published to promote the work of the FAO-implemented and Republic of Korea-funded Action to support implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT) project. The story from Pakistan recounts the positive impacts of the awareness raising efforts about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that have taken place at grassroots level, where livestock carers – who are mostly women – have learnt about the need for responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials in animals. Each story [...]

In March 2024 in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, as part of the Action to support implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT) project plan to improve surveillance capacities in the country, a workshop was held in coordination with the country’s National Laboratories Unit (UNALAB) of the National Agricultural Health and Food Safety Service (SENASAG). Twelve professional bacteriologists working in the area of food safety and animal health from UNALAB Santa Cruz and UNALAB Cochabamba laboratories participated in the workshop, together [...]

On 6 and 7 March, FAO in Pakistan, in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Livestock and Dairy Development Department of South Punjab and the Punjab Food Authority conducted a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Codex Standards and Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the city of Multan in South Punjab. The workshop was part of a training programme taking place in the country under the FAO-implemented and Republic of [...]

The "Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT)" project leveraged World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2023 as an opportunity to highlight the key role of prevention in tackling the issue of drug-resistant infections transmitted through food. During WAAW 2023 the ACT project supported the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Cambodia, Colombia, Mongolia, Nepal, and Pakistan to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and foster collaboration with stakeholders. Bolivia and Colombia prioritized strengthening inter-institutional work In coordination with the government agencies, FAO [...]

Global experts convened to address the critical issue of reducing foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the side event on 1 December 2023, as part of the 46th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC46) at FAO headquarters, Rome.   The panelists discussed how Codex standards help to tackle foodborne AMR, the medically important antimicrobial list by the World Health Organization (WHO), and tools for risk communication about antimicrobial use in plants/crops. Furthermore, participants gained insights into the International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring [...]