CAP: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Nip it in the Bud

Malaysia ranks among the top global consumers of poultry meat, with per capita consumption of 50.5 kilograms in 2023. According to Seasia Stats, Malaysia now leads Southeast Asia in chicken meat consumption per person.

However, this high demand for poultry has raised significant concerns regarding the rampant use of antibiotics in the livestock industry. Over the years, surveys conducted by the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) have revealed widespread antibiotic use in Malaysian farms, primarily to treat and fatten chickens.

A recent CAP survey in Seberang Perai and Kedah uncovered the availability of antibiotics in shops selling animal feed. Sellers routinely recommended antibiotics as growth promoters for chicks. Despite being banned by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), erythromycin remains a popular choice, sold at approximately RM5.00 per packet weighing 20 grams. The product, labeled in Thai and claiming to contain erythromycin and vitamin B12, lacked details about its local importer, hence violating the Trade Descriptions Act 2011.

Since 2021, the DVS has banned six antibiotics in animal feed: erythromycin, enrofloxacin, tylosin, ceftiofur, tetracycline and fosfomycin. These antibiotics, commonly used to promote growth, pose significant risks to food safety and public health when misused.

The misuse of antibiotics in livestock contributes to the alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of Malaysia’s most pressing health threats. Resistant infections are becoming increasingly common, with some pathogens now resistant to multiple antibiotic classes. The World Health Organization warns that if left unchecked, AMR could result in 10 million deaths annually by 2050, with 4.73 million fatalities expected in Asia alone.

CAP has long advocated for stricter controls, calling for a ban on antibiotics in animal feed as early as 1984. Despite the ban by DVS, in Malaysia the use of antibiotic in farm animals still persists, exacerbating the AMR crisis.

Experts believe the antibiotic resistance crisis cannot be resolved by only addressing antibiotic use in people, given the extensive use of antibiotics in food animal production. The European Union and many other countries have banned the non-medical use of antibiotics in animal feed to combat AMR. As antibiotics lose their effectiveness, the global public health crisis worsens, necessitating immediate action.

In light of the catastrophic consequences of AMR, CAP urges the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to:

• Strictly enforce the ban on antibiotics prohibited by the DVS.
• Prohibit the use of antibiotics in animal feeds entirely.
• Establish a national monitoring system for antibiotic use and misuse in food animals.

To minimize exposure to antibiotic residues and resistant bacteria, consumers should reduce their meat consumption.

Urgent, collaborative efforts across all sectors are essential to curb the spread of AMR and safeguard the health of both humans and animals.

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers Association of Penang

Press Statement, 20 February 2025