Sales of veterinary antibacterial medicines in Belgium reached a new historic low of 51.4 mg per kilogram of biomass in 2025, representing a decrease of nearly 13% compared with 2024.
The figures come from the 17th annual BelVet-SAC report, prepared by the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP/FAGG) in cooperation with AMCRA, Belgium’s Knowledge Centre on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Animals.
According to the report, Belgium continues its long-term downward trend in veterinary antibiotic use. Since 2011, total sales of antibacterial veterinary medicines have fallen by 64.9%, effectively achieving the national reduction target of 65%, originally set for 2024, with only a one-year delay.
The statistics include sales of both veterinary medicinal products and antibacterial premixes used in animal feed. Premixes recorded the most significant reduction: sales declined by a further 22.6% in 2025 and are now 91.5% lower than in 2011.
The pig sector showed particularly notable progress.
In 2025, antibacterial use in pig production decreased by 16% compared with the previous year. Since 2018, overall antibiotic use in the sector has been reduced by 56.2%.
In addition to lower antibiotic consumption, indicators of responsible antimicrobial use at farm level also improved. In 2025, more than six out of ten Belgian pig farms were classified within the green benchmark zone across all pig categories, indicating low levels of antibacterial use.
At the same time, the share of antibiotics used on farms classified in the red benchmark zone—those with the highest levels of antimicrobial use—fell by more than half, from 22% in 2024 to 10.5% in 2025.
Experts note that Belgium’s results demonstrate the effectiveness of its long-term national strategy to promote prudent antibiotic use in livestock production. Such measures are considered one of the key tools in combating antimicrobial resistance and enhancing the sustainability of modern animal agriculture.
Source: PigUA.info, based on Pig333.com