Soil Association criticised over antibiotics campaign

NFUS and Ruma speak out

A Soil Association campaign calling for a reduction in antibiotic use on farms has been described as “divisive and inaccurate”.

Both NFU Scotland (NFUS) and Ruma (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture) have spoken out against the organic certification body’s Save Our Antibiotics campaign.

The campaign, which carries the slogan ‘Now is the time for kinder farming. Our health depends on it’, is seeking monetary donations from members of the public.

The Soil Association said the donations would be used to fund a number of activities including bringing farmers together to discuss practical steps to cut antibiotic use, and to help persuade supermarket buyers that they should only stock milk and meat from farming systems with minimal antibiotic use.

Campaign literature states: “Your ongoing support prevents many animals from living a miserable, cramped existence in a factory farm. A further donation from you today will mean that together we can prevent a human health disaster and continue to improve the lives of millions of farm animals.”

NFUS animal health policy manager Penny Johnston said the campaign was both divisive and inaccurate.

She said: “The health and welfare of their animals is of paramount importance to any Scottish livestock farmer. They will work with their vets to ensure their cows, sheep, pigs and poultry are in the best of health, and where there is an issue, the vet will help recommend the proper course of treatment and the prescribed veterinary products to use.

“This way, we jointly strive to avoid the inappropriate use of all veterinary medicines, not just antibiotics.”

Ruma chairman Gwyn Jones said the campaign literature contained incorrect facts and said he was shocked that the antibiotic resistance issue could be used as a vehicle to promote philosophical, commercial or fundraising objectives.

He said: “Attacking farming systems under the guise of campaigning to reduce antibiotics could lead to unintended consequences, such as the replacement of high quality and safe British food with cheaper imports.”

Soil Association policy director Peter Melchett defended the campaign and said: “The Soil Association will continue to argue that improving animal health and welfare is better for the animals, for the environment and for human health.

“Relying on routine dosing with harmful chemicals, when industry itself acknowledges they could avoid doing this, should not be the way forward.”