Thank you chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic Countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway.
We welcome the draft Conference Resolution on addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
We appreciate the inclusive and transparent process, and we thank the Co-Chairpersons of the FAO Group of Friends of Tackling AMR for an excellent job in chairing the open- ended working group.
Chair,
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing health challenges in the world.
Last year, The General Assembly adopted a political declaration on AMR, demanding immediate action to safeguard the ability to treat diseases, enhance food security and advance the Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In this context, we welcome the draft Conference resolution as an important follow- up to the request by the General Assembly.
The draft Conference resolution highlights the key role of FAO in addressing AMR and the use of antimicrobials within the context of sustainable agrifood systems transformation.
We call on FAO to continue to make use of FAO's normative role, technical expertise and function as a convening platform for dialogue in all areas of its mandate, as key comparative advantages in the work on AMR. We also encourage FAO to support members at their request and within its mandate to identify ways to reduce the need of antimicrobials.
AMR must be effectively addressed through a One Health approach and through close collaboration within the Quadripartite organisations.
The draft Conference Resolution reaffirms the need for responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials.
We therefore appreciate FAO’s work on assisting members in the phasing out of the use of antimicrobials as growth promoters, which is essential to further accelerate the action on AMR.
In this context, we wish to recall the recommendation of the second session of the COAG Sub- Committee on Livestock, 16 a) on highlighting the gradual phasing out of the use of antimicrobial growth promoters, starting with the medically important AGPs.
In order to minimize and contain a low level of AMR, we emphasise the importance of effective preventive measures, access to veterinary services, treatment of infection and cross-sectoral cooperation, in order to reduce the need of antimicrobials in the first place.
We also wish to emphasise the need to align strategies with the standards, guidance and recommendations of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Codex Alimentarius.
With these comments, we endorse the draft Conference Resolution.
Thank you,