After 2019 ban on colistin, Centre recommends prohibiting use of 2 more antibiotics in food-producing animals

Sub: Science and tech

Sec: Health

Context:

Apex advisory body Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) has recommended a complete ban on the import, production, distribution and sale of two antibiotics i.e. chloramphenicol and nitrofurans for use in food animal production systems.

More on news:

The DCC’s decision stems from concerns raised by Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), the nodal agency for the development of the seafood industry in India, especially focusing on exports of marine products.
Earlier in 2019, MoHFW banned colistin which is a last-resort antibiotic listed as a highest priority critically important antimicrobial (HPCIA) by the World Health Organization (WHO), in food-producing animals, poultry, aquaculture, and animal feed supplements.
The notification established stringent maximum residue limits of 0.001 milligrams per kilogram for these antibiotics, except for chloramphenicol, which has an even stricter limit of 0.0003 mg/kg.

Substances Banned:

As per Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) guidelines, 20 antibiotics and other pharmacologically active substances are banned for use in shrimp aquaculture.
This includes chloramphenicol and types of nitrofurans, including furaltadone, furazolidone, furylfuramide, nifuratel, nifuroxime, nifurprazine, nitrofurantoin and nitrofurazone.
Their detection in exported shrimp is a matter of significant concern, leading to shipment rejections, especially for markets with strict regulations like the European Union, United States and Japan.
This poses a barrier to expanding trade into these markets.

About Chloramphenicol:

Chloramphenicol is recognised by the WHO as a Highly Important Antimicrobial (HIA).
It is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for various infections, including superficial eye infections, enteric fever, typhoid fever and central nervous system infections such as acute bacterial meningitis.

About Nitrofuran:

Nitrofuran derivatives are classified as Important Antimicrobials (IA) by WHO.
Nitrofurantoin, a type of nitrofuran derivative, is used for treating urinary tract infections.
Many countries, including parts of the European Union and the USA, have already banned the use of nitrofurans in food-producing animals.

Medically important antimicrobials:

WHO publishes an updated list of medically important antimicrobials.
The medically important antimicrobials group is further divided into “highest priority critically important antimicrobials (HPCIA),” “critically important antimicrobials (CIA),” “highly important antimicrobials,” and “important antimicrobials.”

CDSCO:

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is India’s national regulatory body for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
It serves a similar function to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States or the European Medicines Agency of the European Union.
It works under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Within the CDSCO, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) regulates pharmaceutical and medical devices.
The DCGI is advised by the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and the Drug Consultative Committee (DCC).

Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA):

The Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005 enacted by the Parliament of India on 23 June 2005 provides for the establishment of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority for regulating the activities connected with coastal aquaculture in coastal areas.