Ms Niamh Muldoon:

In 2025, in terms of the regulation of medicines, we are a world away from where we were in 2007. As of Regulation (EU) 2019/6 and reflected in the Veterinary Council code of conduct binding on every vet, there is a very strict requirement in terms of the obligations around prudence when it comes to prescribing anti-microbial medicines. This is because we know about the interconnectivity between animal, human and environmental health. There has been a 24% reduction in the use of anti-microbials across animal health in the past four years. In part, this is directly attributable to Regulation (EU) 2019/6 and the binding code of conduct of the Veterinary Council. There are very strict mandatory requirements when a vet comes to discharge the privilege of prescribing an anti-microbial. The world has changed a lot since 2007. It is a different world. There is a full appreciation of the importance of anti-microbial resistance and the detrimental impact of that across all health spheres. It is listed as one of the top ten challenges for the western world by the World Health Organization and there are very strict requirements under the Veterinary Council code of conduct regarding prescribing anti-microbials.