Last Updated on June 15, 2025 by The Health Master
Antimicrobials
Download the notification: The Union Health Ministry issued a draft notification vide No. S.O. 2298(E) dt 22-05-2025 to prohibit the import, manufacture, and sale of 34 critical antimicrobials and their formulations for veterinary use.
This follows the recommendations of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB). This harmonizes India with world-guided standards.
Such a move has been recognized as a huge ban from the EU and countries intent on preserving critical medications for humans.
Transmission from animal to human
This is an important, if not obvious, step to take for the purpose of making sure that critical antimicrobials are reserved for humans.
The more we use these medications in livestock—for everything from growth promotion to prophylaxis against infection—the sooner we develop superbugs that are resistant to medications and can transform into human ailments.
Using this class of medications for animals when there are other formulations available only promotes the potential for drug-resistant bugs that can be easily transmitted from animal to human.
Keeping these critical formulations for humans allows for their use and efficacy for many generations down the line.
Related news: DTAB recommends ban on 34 antimicrobials for animal use
What Are the Antimicrobials?
The antimicrobials are listed in the proposed draft notification with the intention to prohibit them in the notification dated May 22.
There are 34 antimicrobials as follows:
Antibiotics (15 classes/drugs):
- Ureidopenicillins
- Ceftobiprole
- Ceftaroline
- Siderophore cephalosporins
- Carbapenems
- Penems
- Monobactams
- Glycopeptides
- Lipopeptides
- Oxazolidinones
- Fidaxomicin
- Plazomicin
- Glycylcyclines
- Eravacycline
- Omadacycline
Antivirals (18 drugs):
- Amantadine
- Baloxavir marboxil
- Celgosivir
- Favipiravir
- Galidesivir
- Lactimidomycin
- Laninamivir
- Methisazone/Metisazone
- Molnupiravir
- Oseltamivir
- Peramivir
- Ribavirin
- Rimantadine
- Tizoxanide
- Triazavirin
- Umifenovir
- Zanamivir
- Nitazoxanide
Antiprotozoal (1 drug):
- Nitazoxanide
What Else Has Recently Been Banned?
This is not the first time that human betterment has increased India’s preemptive action for drug safety, and it won’t be the last.
At the close of 2024, the Union Health Ministry prohibited the manufacture and sale of the vasodilator nimesulide and its formulations for use in animals.
Q. Why are antimicrobials being banned for animal use?
A. The reason for this ban is specifically to prevent AMR—antimicrobial resistance—which causes pathogens to develop resistance against antibiotics, making treatments in humans difficult and hospitalization a challenge. By reserving important antimicrobials exclusively for human use, the government hopes to retain human efficacy for important antimicrobials for generations to come.
Q. What types of drugs are included in this proposed ban?
A. Drugs included in the proposed ban include 15 classes of antibiotics (carbapenems, glycopeptides), 18 antiviral drugs (oseltamivir, molnupiravir), and nitazoxanide as the antiprotozoal drug.
Disclaimer: This article contains information obtained from the source mentioned below. Our team made changes in the format to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.
Disclaimer: The information we have provided is for general knowledge and for informational purpose only and it cannot be treated as medical advice. Always consult your doctor for any health issues and / or for the treatment of the same. The Health Master does not claim responsibility for this information.
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