The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has decided to ban drug Colistin and its formulation, which is commonly given to the animals producing food. The ministry, in this regard, has issued a gazette notification, which prohibits the manufacturing, sale and distribution of Colistin with immediate effect.

The notification stated that it was brought to the notice of the Central Government that the use of the drug Colistin and its formulations for food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements is likely to involve risk to human beings.

Further, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board has considered the said matter and recommended for prohibiting the said drug and its formulations.

“Therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940), the Central Government hereby? (a) prohibits the manufacture, sale and distribution of the following drug with immediate effect, namely Colistin and its formulations for food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements; and (b) directs that the manufacturer of Colistin and its formulations shall label the container of the drug and mention the words, ‘Not to be used in food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements’ in a conspicuous manner on the package insert and promotional literature of the said drug and its formulations,” said the notification.

Welcoming the move, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that the health ministry’s move is expected to help regulate antibiotic misuse in these animals and contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

“We welcome the health ministry’s move to ban colistin use in food-producing animals. It will help preserve this last-resort antibiotic for humans and save lives from deadly antibiotic-resistant infections. It will go a long way in fighting antibiotic resistance,” said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, CSE.