What is antimicrobial resistance?
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when an antibiotic or other antimicrobial agent stops being effective against an unwanted microorganism. This can have serious negative impacts on animal health, welfare, and production.
Prevention and control of AMR in New Zealand
As part of a global response, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) jointly published a report addressing the changing pattern of antimicrobial resistance in New Zealand. The report outlines 5 key objectives, such as improving awareness and understanding of the issue as well as enhancing prevention and control measures. The report also highlights the need for better data about antibiotic consumption in New Zealand.
Current situation and areas for action on antimicrobial resistance [PDF, 1005 KB]
An action plan was finalised based on areas identified in the above report. The plan outlines activities under 5 objectives that MPI, MOH, and partners will implement to minimise antimicrobial resistance.
Action plan on antimicrobial resistance [PDF, 535 KB]
Year 1 progress report: action plan on antimicrobial resistance [PDF, 251 KB]
In accordance with objective 4 of the New Zealand Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, this document provides direction on the prudent use of antimicrobials in relation to animals and plants.
Prudent use of antimicrobials on animals and plants [PDF, 261 KB]
You can contact the AMR team at MPI via email at AMRteam@mpi.govt.nz
Antibiotic Review and Reassessment Programme
Two of the priority action areas under objective 4 of the New Zealand Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (see above) are:
- a review of the regulatory controls applied to antimicrobial-based trade name products
- establishment of an ongoing reassessment programme for antimicrobials used in veterinary medicine.
To progress these activities, the ACVM team is reviewing registered antibiotic compounds and the agricultural compound trade name products containing them. These reviews will re-evaluate the approved use patterns, mechanisms of action, antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, and current antimicrobial resistance profile for each compound and product. This will determine whether the compound should be considered an important, highly important, or critically important antibiotic relative to New Zealand use. The outcomes of these reviews, and the impacts of this compound classification on the trade name products containing them, will be summarised in review reports and actioned through a subsequent reassessment of the antimicrobial trade name products. The review reports will be published here as they are completed.
AMR Reassessment Review: Macrolides, Later-Generation Cephalosporins and Penicillins [PDF, 371 KB]
Monitoring sales of horticultural and veterinary antibiotics
MPI has a monitoring programme that tracks sales of agricultural compounds containing antibiotics used in horticulture or veterinary medicine. The sales trends for these products are monitored to ensure that the regulatory controls on antibiotics are effective and that any notable changes can be investigated.
- 2020 Antibiotic Agricultural Compound Sales Analysis [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- 2019 Antibiotic Agricultural Compound Sales Analysis [PDF, 685 KB]
- Antibiotic Sales Analysis 2018 [PDF, 897 KB]
- Antibiotic Sales Analysis 2017 [PDF, 1.1 MB]
- Antibiotic sales analysis 2014–2016 [PDF, 742 KB]
- Antibiotic sales analysis 2011–2014 [PDF, 480 KB]
- Report of antibiotics sales for 2009–2011 [PDF, 429 KB]
- Antibiotic sales and use overview 2004–2009 [PDF, 210 KB]
- Veterinary medicine antibiotic sales 2005–2007 [PDF, 312 KB]
- Report on the sales of veterinary antimicrobials 2004–2005 [PDF, 306 KB]
Scientific research on antimicrobial resistance
The following project reports evaluate the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant foodborne pathogens in New Zealand and any likely effect these pathogens may have on human morbidity and mortality.
- Baseline survey of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from selected New Zealand foods 2009–2010 [PDF, 427 KB]
- Risk profile: The emergence of Campylobacter jejuni ST6964 in poultry in New Zealand and its associated antimicrobial resistance [PDF, 1.8 MB]
- Scoping a New Zealand antimicrobial resistance surveillance programme in food [PDF, 84 KB]
Background policy documents on antimicrobial resistance
The following documents provide more background information on antimicrobial resistance.
- Antimicrobial resistance direction statement [PDF, 208 KB]
- Antibiotic resistance information sheet [PDF, 295 KB]
- Report of the antibiotic resistance expert panel - July 2005 [PDF, 738 KB]
- Response of the antibiotic resistance steering group to the report of the antibiotic resistance expert panel [PDF, 46 KB]
- Peer review of the expert panel report and panel response to peer reviews [PDF, 138 KB]
- NZFSA response to the antimicrobial resistance expert panel report and steering committee advice [PDF, 1.7 MB]
- Antibiotic resistance - Review and update on New Zealand regulatory control of antimicrobial agricultural compounds with regard to antimicrobial resistance [PDF, 144 KB]