The discovery of antibiotics is often hailed as one of the greatest achievements in human history, while antimicrobial resistance (AMR) looms as a silent, yet deadly, threat to global public health and development. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bacterial AMR directly caused 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019. The livestock and poultry industries are frequently identified as significant contributors to the rise of AMR. In light of this, TGTF engaged in discussions with a range of industry experts—former bureaucrat, animal vaccine specialist, and professionals in poultry and aquaculture—to gain insight into their perspectives. Below are excerpts from these virtual and electronic conversations.
According to various reports, more than 70% of global antibiotic use occurs in the non-human sector. Could you share insights on the situation in India?
Tarun Shridhar: There is no reliable data on antibiotic production and consumption worldwide. Studies on antibiotic consumption in the livestock sector vary significantly, ranging from 55% to 74%, which reflects a substantial discrepancy. Another challenge is the use of different measurement metrics: in human health, it’s measured in doses, while for livestock, it’s based on weight. Thus, while the figure of 70% is frequently cited, it lacks context without considering factors like livestock mass, diversity, and specific needs.
Now, let’s turn to official figures. According to the latest data released by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the FAO, antibiotic consumption in the livestock sector is approximately 98,000 tons per year. In India, while authentic data remains scarce, INFAH estimates antibiotic usage at 998 tons per year, which constitutes about 1% of global consumption—despite India having 20% of the world’s livestock. Furthermore, India’s organized poultry sector, lack of a beef industry, unorganized dairy sector (with low-productivity animals), and limited swine farming, combined with the economic status of small farmers, make widespread overuse unlikely.
What are your suggestions for the industry and policymakers to advance Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) stewardship?
Tarun Shridhar: There is an urgent need to strengthen drug regulation and food safety standards to ensure that misuse does not compromise the quality of animal-based food products. Other suggestions include:
- Strengthening regulation: Restrict antibiotic sales and enforce prescription-based use.
- Raising awareness: Educate farmers and consumers on responsible antibiotic use and the consequences of resistance.
- Data collection: Invest in reliable data on antibiotic production and consumption.
At the same time, it’s worth noting that WHO data indicates a 13% global decrease in antibiotic use. There is also a growing trend towards natural products and Ayurveda, and even homeopathy is gaining traction in animal care. This reflects the changing preferences of the industry.
What is INFAAR? Would you kindly enlighten our audience on the surveillance
data of INFAAR for 2019-2022?
Prof. Shukla: INFAAR stands for the Indian Network for Fisheries and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance. It was established in 2017 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), with technical support from FAO and USAID. Its main goal is to monitor AMR in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture to shape policy, mitigate public health risks, and promote the responsible use of antimicrobials through education.
INFAAR collected over 3,000 samples from farms across India and the surveillance data for 2019-2022 revealed the following alarming trends:
- Over 50% of E. coli samples in livestock (including poultry, cattle, buffalo, goats, and pigs) were resistant to multiple antibiotics.
- In aquaculture, resistance in Aeromonas (freshwater) to common antibiotics like ampicillin and tetracycline exceeded 50%, sometimes even reaching 75%. In shrimp, Vibrio exhibited resistance to oxytetracycline in more than 50% of cases.
- Resistance to critical antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and colistin was widespread across sectors, with more than 50% of isolates classified as multi-drug resistant (MDR).
- A low level of resistance to certain antibiotics, like chloramphenicol (which is not widely used in veterinary practice), suggests this as a potential area for intervention.
The program also faced challenges such as:
- Lack of standardized guidelines for susceptibility testing.
- Insufficient infrastructure and funding.
- Limited coordination among human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
Despite these challenges, INFAAR has significantly influenced India’s National Action Plan on AMR (2017–2022), facilitated antibiotic testing for both human and veterinary sectors, and strengthened One Health collaborations with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for integrated surveillance.
In October 2024, the FSSAI announced the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins, and Residues) First Amendment Regulations, 2024, which are set to come into effect on April 1, 2025. Could you please share insights on the industry’s preparedness?
Prof. Shukla: The act aims to make our food safer by implementing the following:
- Ban on critical antimicrobials—like carbadox, chloramphenicol, and colistin—at all stages of animal food production.
- Lower permissible residue limits (EMRLs). For example, chloramphenicol is now capped at 0.0003 mg/kg, and for other prohibited drugs, it is 0.0001 mg/kg.
- Tightened limits for mycotoxins & heavy metals in crops like wheat, rye, barley, and coffee, aligning with international standards like Codex and the EU.
Although enforcement is set for April 1, 2025, implementation may bring several challenges, such as:
- Larger and organized players: Bigger players in the poultry and dairy sectors may need to upgrade testing infrastructure to check for residues.
- Small and medium producers: These producers often lack awareness, infrastructure, and access to testing facilities.
- Supply chain adjustments: Farmers and processors must transition to alternative disease-management practices.
- Technology adaptation: Investment in advanced monitoring systems is needed, though this is limited in the country.
Though the National Residue Monitoring Programme is expanding to include more food categories and contaminants like pesticides, fragmented state-level coordination is likely to delay enforcement. To improve compliance, the industry must:
- Reformulate animal feed using approved alternatives.
- Invest in lab upgrades (e.g., LCMS for residue detection).
- Train farmers on AMR risks and responsible drug use.
- Collaborate with FSSAI’s monitoring programs for better data sharing.
Could you provide an update on the current status of e-prescriptions? Which states have already implemented this system, and what are the potential implications?
Prof. Shukla: In veterinary practices, e-prescriptions are still in the early stages. However, India’s National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) aims to establish a framework for digital health services, including e-prescriptions integrated with health IDs, which will further facilitate teleconsultations on platforms like eSanjeevani and enhance access to health services, especially in rural areas. States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi have begun pilot projects, but veterinary adoption is yet to take off.
The potential implications include:
- Patient safety: E-prescriptions can improve safety by reducing errors and preventing medication mistakes.
- Reduced misuse: Digital records would ensure that antibiotics are prescribed only, when necessary, by licensed medical practitioners.
- Improved traceability: E-prescriptions help track drug usage, observe withdrawal periods, and identify non-compliance.
- Streamlined delivery: Better integration with e-pharmacies and digital platforms will improve access, especially in rural areas.
- Economic benefits: Minimizing medication errors can reduce healthcare costs.
Ultimately, e-prescriptions will curb the preventive use of antibiotics, promote therapeutic-only use, and create a digital trail that supports accountability. With the infrastructure already in place for human health, extending this system to veterinary medicine is only a matter of time—especially if veterinarians receive the necessary training.
What is the trend in antibiotic usage in India? How does the production and consumption of veterinary antibiotics look in the country?
Dr. Dey: The trend in antibiotic usage should be assessed separately for ruminants, poultry, aquaculture, and swine. For ruminants, antibiotics are mostly used in therapeutic cases by field veterinarians or paravets. The trend is moving toward the judicious use of antibiotics, with the choice of drug often influenced by cost and availability.
In the poultry business, there is significant awareness of AMR concerns, and most major broiler producers, breeders, and layer farmers now grow chickens without antibiotics, unless an infectious disease requires therapeutic intervention. It is important to note that the share of antibiotics in the overall poultry healthcare market is decreasing in India.
The organized aquaculture sector is aware of AMR concerns; however, unorganized aqua producers may still rely on antibiotics due to the high risk of infectious diseases during the harvesting season, with antibiotics being readily available without a prescription in retail channels.
Overall, the consumption of antibiotics in the animal health sector is decreasing. Please refer to Table 1 on “Veterinary Use of Antibiotics,” published by INFAH recently.
Ideally, the consumption of antibiotics should be estimated based on actual usage rather than supply levels. Many generic antibiotics sold at retail counters are used for both human and animal health. The Government of India and the industry have access to animal production data. As an animal health industry professional, we can estimate the usage of therapeutic and prophylactic antibiotics in the lifecycle of ruminants, poultry, aquaculture, companion animals, etc. This is a robust exercise (based on population and consumption data), and I have developed such data for poultry, which can be shared upon request.
Given that various studies suggest a threshold limit for antibiotic use, what steps should India’s livestock and poultry industries take to move forward?
Dr. Dey: India should establish a well-defined “Maximum Residue Limit” (MRL) for the livestock, poultry, and aquaculture sectors (food-producing animals). This should be followed by a massive grassroots campaign. AMR awareness should not be limited to the media or urban populations. A “bottom-up approach” should involve all stakeholders, including farmers, animal owners, veterinarians, and paravets. A mass campaign (similar to the SWACHH BHARAT initiative) will raise awareness and help India reach the desired level of prudent antibiotic use.
Remember that successful campaigns like the Polio and Rinderpest eradications and the Covid campaign did not require legislation but relied on mass awareness.
What is the status of antibiotic use in shrimp farming, and what challenges are
faced in India? How do farmers cope with these challenges?
Ramraj: Antibiotic use in shrimp farming, if it occurs, is typically due to ignorance rather than necessity. The most economically significant diseases affecting shrimp in India are primarily viral (such as White Spot Disease) and fungal (caused by EHP). Bacterial diseases in shrimp farming are rare. Among bacteria, Vibrio is the most serious pathogen; however, it is generally an opportunistic pathogen, not an obligate one. Vibrio infections are more common in hatcheries than in farms. Historically, antibiotics were used in hatcheries to control Vibrio infections, but recently, hatcheries have shifted to alternative therapeutics such as probiotics and phages.
Shrimp farming in brackish water is also at risk from antibiotic use in human and terrestrial animal therapeutics. Residues of these antibiotics can eventually end up in brackish water environments, contributing to potential contamination.
Can you please update us on the consumption of antibiotics in the Indian fisheries
and shrimp sectors?
Balasubramaniam: In the shrimp farming sector, which I represent as the General Secretary of the Prawn Farmers Federation of India—the apex body of all prawn and shrimp farmers’ associations in the country—the use of antibiotics is almost negligible. While I do not have the full authority to state that antibiotic usage is entirely absent, I can confidently say that it is not used to any significant extent in shrimp and prawn aquaculture in India. This applies to both shrimp produced for export as well as those sold in the domestic market.
It is evident from our export data that the overall rejection rate for Indian shrimp exports is less than 1%. This 1% includes all possible reasons for rejection, such as antibiotic residues and other food contaminants. Within this 1%, the proportion of rejections specifically due to antibiotic residues is even smaller—though the exact figure is unknown, it is a fraction of this already minimal rejection rate. Given the scale of shrimp farming in India and the highly fragmented nature of farming operations, achieving 100% compliance remains a challenge. However, our commitment is clear—we strive to ensure that every shrimp produced in India is completely food-safe and free from antibiotic contamination.
The industry is actively working towards eliminating even these minimal occurrences through continuous farmer education. We emphasise the serious consequences of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its impact on both domestic and international market acceptance. Any presence of antibiotic residues leads to rejections in export markets, which in turn affects demand and lowers the prices farmers receive. This economic impact itself serves as a strong deterrent against antibiotic use.
A key alternative that has gained widespread adoption is the use of probiotics. Almost all shrimp farms in India have transitioned to probiotic-based farming, and hatcheries have also shifted to probiotic-based larval rearing. Additionally, the major diseases affecting shrimp production in India today—EHP (caused by a microsporidium) and White Spot Disease (caused by a virus)—are not bacterial in nature. Since antibiotics are ineffective against these pathogens, farmers understand that their use would be a waste of money and an unnecessary risk.
Furthermore, the Government of India enforces strict monitoring and routine testing to ensure compliance with regulations. Given these factors, antibiotic usage in Indian shrimp aquaculture is practically non-existent.
We are targeting an increase in exports, which could be achieved through intensive farming — a potential threat to sustainability. How can we balance this?
Balasubramaniam: While increasing shrimp exports is a priority, it is incorrect to assume that intensification is the only way to achieve higher production. In fact, intensive farming poses significant sustainability risks, including higher disease outbreaks, increased crop failures, higher capital and energy requirements, and environmental degradation. Instead, a more balanced and sustainable approach to production growth is needed.
The key to scaling up exports while ensuring sustainability lies in reducing farming failures rather than simply increasing stocking densities. Currently, nearly 50% of shrimp crops fail due to disease and environmental stress. By focusing on genetic improvements, better disease management, and farming best practices, we can increase output without adding pressure on resources.
Strategies for Sustainable Growth:
- Reducing Crop Failures: Instead of intensification, minimizing losses through better genetics and improved farming practices can significantly boost overall production. Stronger, disease-resistant shrimp strains—like those successfully used in Ecuador—can reduce mortality rates and allow multiple harvests per year, improving both yield and profitability.
- Diversified Production Models: Alternative farming systems such as biofloc and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) can support higher stocking densities without excessive environmental impact. These systems minimize water usage and improve waste management, making them more sustainable.
- Optimizing Natural Resources: In certain coastal areas, access to clean ocean water with a higher carrying capacity could be leveraged for sustainable expansion. However, such projects require careful planning, strong genetic strains, and financial investment to succeed.
- Farmer-Centric Approach: Any production increase must be economically viable for farmers. Intensification demands heavy capital and energy inputs, which many small and medium farmers cannot afford. A focus on improving farming success rates rather than increasing density ensures that production growth benefits farmers rather than burdening them.
To summarise. – to balance export growth with sustainability, the focus should be on reducing crop failures, adopting resilient shrimp strains, and implementing smart, resource-efficient farming models. Relying solely on intensive farming is not viable—it leads to higher risks, greater costs, and long-term sustainability challenges. Instead, a science-driven, farmer-friendly, and environmentally responsible approach will enable India to increase exports without compromising the future of the industry.
Disclaimer: A special thanks to Dr. Leena Bora for her consistent guidance and for leading various virtual interactions.
