Published 28/06/2018

We are delighted to share the news that the European Union is set to end the routine preventative use of antibiotics on farms.

Propping up cruel factory farming

Antibiotics are regularly given to animals confined in factory farms, due to the higher risk of disease when large numbers of animals are kept in inhumane, overcrowded conditions.

There is strong evidence that the overuse of antibiotics in intensive farming is contributing to antibiotic resistance in human medicine. Routinely dosing healthy animals on a preventative basis is something we cannot afford to do if we are to have a chance of preserving antibiotics for the future.

As a founding member of the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics, we have worked tirelessly though our campaigning and lobbying to help convince the European Council to support a ban on this misuse of vital medicines.

A huge step forward

Our Director of Campaigns, Emma Slawinski, said: “We are teetering on the brink of a huge step forward on the path to ending factory farming. Compassion has been campaigning for years to end the routine, preventative use of antibiotics in farming and this work is finally coming to fruition.”

“We may need the help of our wonderful supporters again when the legislation faces further votes, but this is a major victory!”

Find out more about our Save Our Antibiotics campaign here.