New norms for antibiotic residues in food products have been issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in an effort to address the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Starting from April 1, 2025, the new regulations will impose stricter limits on antibiotics in meat, milk, poultry, eggs, aquaculture and add more drugs to its watch list. FSSAI has also banned the use of antibiotics in honey production and revised the maximum permissible limits of ochratoxin A and deoxynivalenol in wheat, barley, rye, and coffee.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), driven by the inappropriate use of antibiotics in healthcare and agriculture, poses a significant threat to health and development of our country. Recent findings from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reveal that commonly treated infections such as UTIs, pneumonia and typhoid are increasingly resistant to standard antibiotics, complicating treatment protocols. Data from 99,492 samples across Indian healthcare facilities in 2023 underscores a concerning rise in resistance rates and declining bacterial susceptibility.
"If enforced strictly, the regulations will ensure safer food products for consumers by setting stricter residue and contaminant limits across a variety of food items and help in dealing with antimicrobial resistance," said George Cheriyan, working president of Consumers Protection Association (CPA).
The maximum residue limits for antibiotics, last established in 2011, are now due for revision,” added Cheriyan. The farming sector’s use of antibiotics, often as growth promoters, contributes to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, potentially undermining treatment efficacy for both human and animal health.
This new regulatory shift by FSSAI marks a significant development in the fight against AMR, stressing the need for continued monitoring of antibiotic usage to maintain the effectiveness of essential treatments.
