Antibiotics resistance – a growing concern for CARICOM

Community Institutions issue Joint Statement

The CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) and the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) have expressed concern about the new global threat of antibiotics resistance. In a Joint Statement issued on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day to be observed on 15 March 2016, the CARICOM institutions explained the   associated  challenges and dangers of such resistance.

“The overuse of antibiotics ... allows resistant bacteria and resistant genes to spread from these animals to humans through the food chain. As a result, human infections with antibiotic resistant bacteria can be difficult or impossible to cure, and may lead to death, in some instances, the statement said.

The statement drew attention to the high level of imported products from extra regional partners, noting that in 2013 alone this amounted to a cost of approximately US$19.8 billion in meats and edible offal.  It  pointed out that  the referenced figure did not include possible imports by several international fast food restaurants such as Burger King, McDonalds, and Kentucky Fried Chicken established  across CARICOM.

The institutions called for “a careful approach” and strategies “to protect CARICOM consumers from antibiotic resistant foods....”holistic, inter-sectoral and multifaceted approaches must be developed both at the national and regional levels in CARICOM”.  These included  effective coordination of resources and actions to control the importation, sale, distribution and most importantly use of antimicrobials.

Read Full Statement in the attachement below

For more information about the work of the CCC in the area of consumer protection, please email admin@ccc.sr or view the website at www.caricomcompetitioncommission.com

For more information about the work of the CAHFSA, please email info@cahfsa.org or view the website at http://cahfsa.org