January 28, 2016
Philippines warns vs abuse of antibiotics on dairy cattle
The Philippine National Dairy Authority has warned dairy cattle raisers not to abuse the use of antibiotics and anti-fungal drugs, saying the bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites in their animals might develop anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
NDA administrator Grace Cenas said, "Once an animal develops anti-microbial resistance, instead of killing the bacteria, the antibiotics no longer have an effect. The microbes survive even if there is an antibiotic".
She added that once the microbes develop AMR, treatment will be longer and harder.
Some animal raisers have used medically important antibiotics to promote growth when they should only be used to treat and prevent disease.
Cenas assured consumers that the NDA does not allow the processing of milk coming from an animal that was given antibiotics.
Meanwhile, Cenas said the Dairy Food Regulations (DFR) crafted under the Food Safety Act is expected to get the approval of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala soon.
The NDA drafted the DFR for milk from the farm up to the post-harvest level after conducting numerous consultations.
Existing dairy farms, milk collection centers, milk processing plants and other dairy enterprises along the dairy value chain are given a maximum of two years from its effectivity date to fully comply with the regulations before they are allowed to operate such enterprises.
The DFR and standards adopt the HACCP, GAP, GAHP, GMP and PNS for Fresh Milk as well as the Codex Alimentarius standards. These regulations also give preference to the compliance by the dairy enterprise operators with existing laws and administrative rules and regulations, like health and environmental laws and regulations, those on animal welfare, quarantine, feeds, drugs and biologics; and consumer laws and fair trade rules.