Limiting the use of antibiotics

Under the new rules the preventative use of antimicrobials will be limited to single animals and will be allowed only when justified by a veterinarian and where there is a high infection risk. Collective treatments - treating a whole group of animals when only one is sick - will be permitted only where no suitable alternatives exist and after appropriate justification from a veterinarian.

Certain antimicrobials will be reserved for the treatment of humans.

According to the new rules, veterinary medicines should never be used to compensate for poor conditions of animal farming or to make animals grow faster.