Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Committee received evidence on the threat of antimicrobial resistance in the UK
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the UK.2 Prior to the session with the accountable government bodies we also took evidence from the Lord O’Neill of Gatley, who led the Government-commissioned review of AMR from 2014 to 2016, and from Dr David Partridge, President at the British Infection Association and consultant microbiologist and infection control doctor at Sheffield Teaching Hospital.
Government Response Summary
The government states the "recommendation is implemented", outlining its existing efforts to tackle AMR, including the 2024-29 UK National Action Plan, driving international action through UNGA and trade agreements, and ensuring AMR is captured as a chronic risk on the National Risk Register.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) requires a coordinated and comprehensive global response. The 2024 – 2029 UK National Action Plan to confront AMR (NAP) includes commitments to drive international action and is complemented by an ambitious political declaration at the UNGA High Level meeting on AMR of 2024, which the United Kingdom championed. AMR measures have been secured in several of the UK’s recent trade agreements, including the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which contains AMR provisions aiming to strengthen international cooperation on AMR. The UK maintains regulatory autonomy over its AMR policy and framework. Defra and DHSC contribute to trade negotiations. Defra leads on the Sanitary and Phytosanitary chapter, including AMR provisions, with DHSC providing advice. All mandates are subject to collective Cabinet agreement. For new free trade agreements (FTAs), the Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) scrutinises whether the measures applicable to trade in agricultural products are consistent with the maintenance of UK levels of statutory protection in relation to a) animal or plant health; b) animal welfare, and c) environmental protections. This includes AMR. The TAC confirmed that recently concluded trade deals do not limit the UK’s ability to regulate imports to safeguard against the harmful effects of antimicrobial use. Similarly, the Food Standards Agency provides independent assessments on whether agreements uphold statutory protections for human health. The FSA has reviewed the FTAs with Australia, New Zealand, and the UK’s accession to CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), and concluded that these agreements maintain existing protections, including those related to AMR. DHSC and Defra work with the Cabinet Office to ensure AMR is captured effectively as a chronic risk on the National Risk Register, highlighting domestic and international risks, across humans, animals and the environment.