Page Content
Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a property of bacteria that enables them to grow in the presence of antibiotic levels that would normally suppress or kill susceptible bacteria.
- The Joint Expert Technical Advisory Committee on Antibiotic Resistance (JETACAR) released its report on The Use of Antibiotics in Food-Producing Animals: Antibiotic-Resistant bacteria in Animals and Humans in September 1999, making 22 recommendations for antimicrobial resistance management.
- The Australian Government Response
PDF [1.5mb] in August 2000 strongly supported the intent of the JETACAR report and outlined mechanisms for implementing the recommendations. -
Pilot Surveillance Program for Antimicrobial Resistance in bacteria of animal origin, recommendation 10 of the JETACAR Report addresses the issue of monitoring and surveillance. As a first step in implementing this recommendation the Australian Government released a Strategy for Antimicrobial Resistance in Australia PDF [200kb].
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has responsibility for the animal component of the strategy. This is primarily being implemented through a pilot surveillance program which commenced in November 2003.
DAFF has a leading role in the management of AMR in Australia, including:
- Co-Chairing of the Commonwealth Interdepartmental JETACAR Implementation Group (CIJIG) and
- involvement in the Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (EAGAR)
Additionally, DAFF provides policy and technical advice on AMR issues in international fora such as:
- Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR)
- Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Food (CCRVDF)
- Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH)
Last Updated: 29 Nov 2007
Contact: