asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will increase research into links between routine use of antibiotics in animal feeds and the development and spread of resistant types of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria. [HL3978]

The routine use of antimicrobial in animal feeds stopped in January 2006 when antimicrobial growth promoters were banned in Europe. However, the Government take the occurrence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in farmed animals very seriously and currently spend £1 million per annum on research to investigate the issue.

Recent surveillance in cattle has not detected the presence of MRSA and the current UK survey of MRSA in breeding pigs, which commenced in January 2008 and is due to finish in December 2008, has identified no MRSA to date. This is being carried out under Community legislation. It is anticipated that the results of this study will be published in mid-2009 and that they will inform the direction of future research. As a result there are currently no plans to increase the research into the development of MRSA in farmed animals. Nevertheless this will be kept under review.

In 2005 the MRSA Sub-Group of the Defra Antimicrobial Resistance Co-Ordination (DARC) Group was created, through which Defra is assisting and encouraging various initiatives relating to MRSA from the Bella Moss Foundation (a UK-registered charity promoting awareness of MRSA in animals), industry and the veterinary profession. Defra has funded research to better understand the epidemiology of MRSA in companion animals and livestock and any role it may play in human infections.