Antimicrobials in agriculture: reducing their use while limiting health and socioeconomic risks in the countries of the South

But in some of the countries of the South, antimicrobial use is still increasing, and is accentuated by two contextual factors. First, growing demand for animal protein, especially in the middle-income countries: this translates into an increase in intensive pig, poultry and fish farming, which use antimicrobials routinely as growth promoters and veterinary drugs. Second, the need for tighter regulations and surveillance: regulations on antimicrobials are relatively soft, and controls of their sales as well as surveillance of antimicrobial resistance are often lacking. In addition, health and veterinary advice is generally insufficient. This widespread use of antimicrobials is seen in particular in China, Southeast Asia, India, Brazil and some African countries. persp ctive e