After several years of decline in the use of antibiotics in Danish agriculture, the new figures of antibiotic use in pig production show a significant increase from 2011 to 2012. In terms of total numbers this represents an annual increase by 5.5%. However, due to the decrease in total pork production during the same period, the increase reaches 10.5% when calculated according to accumulated production. Pig meat production has fallen from 2,008,000 tons in 2011 to 1,916,400 tons in 2012.
At the same time, the inventory of the purchases of antibiotics in January 2013 shows an increase by 2% in comparison with January 2012.
The Minister of Agriculture has described as alarming the noticeable increase in the consumption of antibiotics for pigs.
In autumn 2012, the Government and all the political parties in the Parliament reached an agreement by means of which it was decided to go on with the yellow card system and the establishment of strict limits with respect to the use of antibiotics in pigs.