EU Harmonised Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in E. coli from Retail Meats in UK (2020 - Year 6, chicken)

In accordance with European Directive 2003/99/EC on the monitoring of bacteria that can pass from animals to humans and cause disease, Member States are obliged to ensure that procedures are in place to monitor and report on the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in such bacteria. The UK continued to be subject to EU rules during the transition period up to the end of December 2020. The requirements state that 300 retail chicken meats should be tested by culture for the bacterium Escherichia coli. E. coli bacteria are a normal part of the gut flora of mammals and as such can be useful “indicators” of AMR in gut bacteria. Whilst some strains of E. coli can cause disease, most strains of E. coli do not cause observable disease in healthy animals and humans. Addressing the public health threat posed by AMR is a national strategic priority for the UK, which has led to both a 20-year vision of AMR and a 5-year (2019 to 2024) AMR National Action Plan (NAP).