About the Assessment
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a recognized threat to global public health. AMR refers to the ability of microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) to resist the effects of antimicrobial treatments. A recognized driver of AMR is antimicrobial use (AMU).
The Government of Canada has committed to address the AMR issue by working with partners to increase and expedite action to monitor, prevent and mitigate the serious and growing threat of AMR. The overarching goal is to preserve the effectiveness of the antimicrobials Canadians rely upon every day.
To better understand how AMU in food producing animals impacts human health, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS), with financial support from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), will be conducting an assessment on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Antimicrobial Use (AMU) in food-producing animals in Canada. This assessment will support the Pan-Canadian Action Plan on AMR, a shared federal, provincial and territorial commitment to address AMR across 5 pillars and 10 priority actions.
Canadian Academy of Health Sciences assessments are formal reports prepared under the direction of an independent panel. Assessment panel members are impartial experts who hold a balance of different views.
How an assessment works:
- The panel reviews findings from evidence and consultations and prepares a report.
- External experts then review this report, independently and anonymously.
- Finally, the report is submitted to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
This assessment will build on previous and ongoing work to address AMR/AMU in Canada. By analyzing scientific evidence and consulting with key organizations and individuals, the CAHS assessment report will identify pathways to address areas of greatest need related to AMR/AMU.
