In a statement today, CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader highlighted the misuse of antibiotics in the livestock industry, particularly in poultry farming where he said antibiotics are used not only to treat illnesses but also to fatten chickens.

Mohideen claimed a recent survey by the association in Seberang Perai, Penang, and Kedah had found the illegal sale and use of these antibiotics in farms and feed shops.

“Sellers have routinely recommended antibiotics as growth promoters for chicks, and despite being banned by the veterinary services department (DVS), erythromycin remains a popular choice at approximately RM5 per 20g packet,” he said.

Mohideen said one of the products found, labelled in Thai and claiming to contain erythromycin and vitamin B12, lacked details about its local importer, violating the Trade Descriptions Act 2011.

He said since 2021, DVS had banned six antibiotics in animal feed: erythromycin, enrofloxacin, tylosin, ceftiofur, tetracycline, and fosfomycin.

“These antibiotics, commonly used to promote growth, pose significant risks to food safety and public health when misused,” he said.

He said their misuse had contributed to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), “one of Malaysia’s most pressing health threats”.

“The World Health Organization warns that if left unchecked, AMR could result in 10 million deaths annually by 2050, with 4.73 million fatalities expected in Asia alone,” he said.

Mohideen also urged the health and agriculture and food security ministries to take immediate action by enforcing DVS’s ban on specific antibiotics and prohibiting the use of antibiotics in animal feed.