The EU banned the use ofavopardn, a widely used antibiotic feed additive in food-producinq animals in 1997, against the advice of a panel of animal nutrition experts. Two years later came a ban on bacitracin, spiramycin, tylosin and virginiamycin. Once more, the ban was imposed against expert advice, again on the basis of fears of antibiotic resistance spreading via the food chain. How have these bans affected the health of animals and humans? From the first day of 2006, the last antibiotic feed additives (AFAs) were banned from use in food-producing animals in the European Union. Several years have passed since the first ban on AFAs was implemented and some other countries are proposing similar action, so it is worthwhile to assess the results of these bans on antibiotic resistance in microorganisms as well as the health of food-producing animals and humans.
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