Health Ministry Proposes Ban on 34 Antimicrobials in Animal Use

Key Highlights:-

• Health Ministry proposes ban on 34 antimicrobials for animal use to curb AMR
• Banned list includes 15 antibiotics, 18 antivirals, and 1 antiprotozoal drug
• This will follows earlier ban on nimesulide, reinforcing public health protection

The Union Health Ministry has issued a draft notification proposing a ban on the manufacture, import, sale, and distribution of 34 antimicrobials and their formulations for animal use, to protect public health and curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR), this action follows recommendations from the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and aligns India with global standards, including recent European Union regulations.

Last Thursday, the draft was published, asking for feedback from stakeholders within 30 days, after which the government will finalize its decision. The proposed ban covers a wide range of 15 antibiotics, including carbapenems, glycopeptides, ceftobiprole, oxazolidinones, and monobactams, along with 18 antiviral agents such as favipiravir, oseltamivir, molnupiravir, and ribavirin. In addition, the antiprotozoal drug nitazoxanide is also included in the list.

According to the ministry, these antimicrobials pose potential risks to human health if used in animals, and safer veterinary alternatives are already available in the market.

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Therefore, the Board advised banning 34 out of the 37 antimicrobials, pending additional review by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) on the remaining three carboxypenicillins, cephalosporins with beta-lactamase inhibitors, and phosphonic acid derivatives.

The European Union regulation these actions was designed to reserve vital antimicrobials for treating severe infections in humans, thus preserving efficiency and slowing the global spread of AMR.

This draft regulation comes up with another major step in late 2024, when the Health Ministry banned the veterinary use of the NSAID nimesulide, mentioning environmental and health risks, and stressing the availability of safer alternatives.

This latest announcement of a ban in India’s growing resolve to hold antimicrobial misuse and strengthen public health safeguards in line with global best practices.