Parliament calls for more rules on antibiotics

The European Parliament has endorsed a report that calls for stricter regulation on the use of antibiotics.

MEPs adopted a report drafted by Italian MEP Piernicola Pedicini, of the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group, on 19 May. The recommendations of the report were approved by 637 votes for and 32 against, with 10 abstentions.

The measures proposed include strictly prohibiting the use of antibiotics without prescription, requiring a proper diagnosis before prescribing antibiotics, marketing practices that would reduce conflicts of interest between producers and prescribers, and improved monitoring systems for antimicrobial use, resistance and infection control.