FAO in collaboration with Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) organized a meeting at Kolkatta, India on 7-8 March 2017 and facilitated establishment of a national network of veterinary laboratories for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India.  Provisionally the network has been named as Indian Network for Fishery and Animals Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR).

The meeting, attended by 32 experts and senior officials from the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) finalized the core structure of network, its broad functions, quality component and also identified the activities to be undertaken by INFAAR.

A high-level advisory body comprising of ICAR officials, senior scientists and external experts shall be established by ICAR to guide all aspects of network, review the data generated and have an oversight on its operations.

INFAAR shall be gradually expanded to include laboratories from other sectors subject to their meeting the criteria on competence and willingness to agree to the mandate of the network.

National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics, Bengaluru (NIVEDI) shall coordinate the overall technical and data management operations of the network. National Bureau of Fish Genetic Research (BFGR) shall collaborate with NIVEDI in coordinating technical activities of laboratories from fishery sector.

A dedicated website for INFAAR shall be developed and regularly updated with relevant information. To begin with, a status paper on antimicrobial resistance in animals shall be developed and disseminated. It shall act as basic document to monitor the progress in future.

INFAAR shall extend support to researchers in undertaking studies on AMR.

FAO shall provide technical assistance to INFAAR in strengthening national efforts to mitigate AMR in India.