The next item is item 8, a statement by the Minister for rural affairs on antimicrobial resistance and the progress of the Wales five-year animal and environment plan. I call on the Minister for rural affairs to make the statement. Lesley Griffiths.

Diolch, Llywydd. Antibiotics are a fundamental foundation for modern healthcare systems, enabling us to effectively treat most bacterial infections, in both people and animals. Their discovery and development have revolutionised not only healthcare, but also wider society. Infections and procedures that would have been fatal in the past are now treated routinely. Antibiotics are a precious resource, and we need to safeguard them for the well-being of our future generations.

Antibiotics occur naturally in nature, as does the ability of bacteria to become resistant to them. For example, within 20 years of its introduction in the 1940s, more than 80 per cent of strains of Staphyloccus aureus had become resistant to penicillin. Resistance to antibiotics is a property of the bacteria, not their human or animal hosts, largely driven by the use of antibiotics themselves, and the threat it poses is real. As resistance can be spread between bacteria and some resistant organisms infect both people and animals, we need to address antibiotic use holistically in both people and animals.

AMR control also needs to address potential routes of spread through the environment and through the food chain. Leaving AMR unchecked would have wide-ranging and extremely costly impacts, not only in financial terms, but also in terms of public and animal health, as well as trade, food security and environmental and socioeconomic development. Already, AMR is estimated to cause 700,000 deaths each year globally. This figure is estimated to rise to 10 million by 2050 if no action is taken. People and animals will suffer longer illnesses and more deaths, and it will increase pressure on health services for humans and animals. AMR is primarily a threat for people; however, losing effective antibiotics through resistance would have grave consequences for animal health, animal welfare and food security.

The World Health Organization produced a global action plan on AMR, endorsed at the World Health Assembly in 2015. Subsequently, the World Organisation for Animal Health published their strategy on AMR and the prudent use of AMRs in animals. Here in the UK, there is currently a 20-year vision and five-year national action plan, both published in 2019. These strategies have helped shape our approach in Wales. In 2019, I established the Wales Animal and Environment Antimicrobial Resistance Delivery Group. The group is made up of representatives from the farming industry, the veterinary profession, leading academics, Public Health Wales, and Government officials.

In July 2019, I published a five-year animal and environment AMR implementation plan for Wales, which was recommended by the newly established delivery group. The Welsh plan has five major objectives. An important focus is on infection prevention and control. Keeping animals healthy through good care and management reduces the need to use antibiotics. Another key focus is on ensuring when antibiotics do have to be used, they are used responsibly, minimally and in ways that reduce the risk of the development of resistance.

We have applied the 'one health' concept to our approach. Human health and animal health are interdependent and are bound to the health of the environment in which they exist. We have brought together experts in public, animal and environmental health to work together, sharing their experience and expertise. I believe this approach has been successful and has placed Wales towards the forefront of efforts to control AMR.

Within the Welsh Government, the quality and nursing directorate are currently undertaking a review of the AMR national action plan targets published in 2019. The review is predominantly focused on human health; however, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales has contributed to this review with an assessment of the NAP targets regarding animal and environment health. AMR has also been identified as one of the key priorities for our 10-year Wales animal health and welfare framework. A 'one health' approach is fundamental, not just for AMR control, but for our goal of a healthy Wales.

I would like to inform the Senedd of some of the specific work I have commissioned. To support delivery approaches on the ground, I made £4 million of rural development plan funding available to focus on the control of AMR in animals and the environment. Arwain DGC Cymru were successful in their application to deliver a range of important projects to control AMR and promote animal health. The project, launched in October 2021, is currently delivering a number of activities, many of which are being piloted here in Wales for the first time. The project is leading the way on capturing antibiotic usage data for beef, sheep and dairy sectors across Wales. This is an important step as we need to understand patterns of antibiotic use in order to establish a baseline and to target reduction of the most high-risk uses. The information is of great interest to the whole food chain, and this work will put our producers in a good position to meet market demands. Acting and delivering now will significantly help demonstrate how Welsh produce is produced responsibly and safely.

Some of the projects being developed under Arwain DGC also build upon progress made as part of the Arwain Vet Cymru project. Staff at the new Aberystwyth University veterinary school established the first group of veterinary prescribing champions in the UK, who are leading work in their practices and among their clients to ensure antibiotics are used responsibly. The project has received widespread recognition and garnered some prestigious awards. The project's lead, based at the veterinary school in Aberystwyth, was awarded the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Impact Award for this work. Our vet prescribing champions are also developing important guidelines on antibiotic selection for use by vets, similar to resources available to NHS GPs—a first for Wales.

There are many other groundbreaking strands of the Arwain DGC project, and further information can be found on their website. I would encourage all Members to have a look. In little over a year, Arwain DGC is already receiving a great amount of recognition, not just across the UK but further afield. In recognition of their success, I’m pleased to confirm Arwain DGC has been shortlisted for three separate entries as part of the Antibiotic Guardian awards. I wish them the best of luck for when the results are announced, later this year.

It is clear the control of AMR cannot be done solely by Government. The control of infectious diseases and of the antibiotics used to treat them are in the hands of animal keepers and their vets. We, therefore, need those people, and the scientific experts, to work together and with us. Therefore, I’m pleased to confirm I've allocated an additional £2.5 million to support the continuation of delivery efforts for the next two years here in Wales. 

In conclusion, Llywydd, I want to emphasise the relevance of AMR control to the safety and well-being of future generations, in Wales and around the world. Our work on AMR control is an excellent example of how forward-looking and multidisciplinary approaches, with the Welsh Government working constructively alongside partners in the private sector, can deliver the goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, in this case a prosperous Wales, a resilient Wales, a healthier Wales, and a globally responsible Wales. I am determined Wales continues to make a full contribution to the control of AMR. Diolch.

I'm grateful for advance sight of this afternoon's statement and I refer Members to my register of interests. It's vital that we are exceptionally clear about the risks that AMR, antimicrobial resistance, poses to modern society, be that on farm or in a healthcare setting. This risk poses an existential threat to both humans and animals, and so we must ensure that this Government is implementing an action plan that is adaptable, holistic and intrinsic in its approach. In compromising an animal's ability to successfully control and intercept bacterial infections, AMR removes that natural ability to withstand contagion, the consequences of which, as the Minister has stated, go far beyond the farm gate. If we fail at counteracting this, we not just risk the decimation of animal health, but the collapse of food supply chains, communities left without income and the terminal decline of antibiotic resistance in other species, namely us humans. Given the threat that this poses, I'm pleased to note the Minister's intentions this afternoon.

The Minister's plan, paired with the UK's five-year AMR national action plan, is a critical step in the right direction, one that sees us working with industry to phase out the mass use of antibiotics. And let's be clear, the industry is already making significant progress. UK use of antibiotics in livestock has fallen by as much as 50 per cent in the last few years. Welsh farmers are making changes to their livestock protocols, reducing their reliance on antibiotics by developing sustainable safeguards for animal health. And Arwain DGC are working with and supporting Welsh vets to develop and utilise novel technology to explore biosecurity and precision solutions.

All parts of the agricultural sector, from farmer to vet, are working with one another to develop an AMR prevention strategy through the application of new technology, data gathering, and improved understanding—a science-led decision-making process that we ought to be supporting, enhancing and replicating. In fact, a key component within the Welsh Government's 2019 five-year implementation plan for Wales was to do just this, investing in and supporting innovation, enhancing laboratory capacity and using data to optimise the specific, limited and responsible use of antimicrobials. Given that we already have an established scientific team at Aberystwyth University's Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, IBERS, what thought has the Minister given to incorporating them into the Arwain DGC project to help achieve the target set out in the 2019 action plan? Indeed, it's important we also recognise the advancements that have already been made, efforts that have proven to be successful and should be supported, and so I'm pleased to note your intention to allocate an additional £2.5 million to support the continuation of delivery efforts. I would be interested, however, in receiving further clarification on the source of this funding and whether it has been allocated from the rural development programme. 

Lastly, with the Welsh Government's new chief veterinary officer due to come into office shortly next month, I would like to know what consideration the Minister has given to the CVO's expertise in this matter and whether his appointment brings with him a new way of thinking. To end, I would like to reiterate the Minister's closing remarks. Our work on AMR, that of industry and Government, is an exceptional example of why multidisciplinary approaches are key to developing successful action plans. This blueprint that the Minister and Welsh Government have followed in relation to AMR is commendable and has delivered results. The use of science, technology, innovation and being brave in decision making has helped Wales lead in AMR research and development: a blueprint that merits being replicated as we tackle further challenges within the agricultural sector. Diolch, Llywydd.

Thank you, Sam, for your very positive response to the report. I think you're right. You do have to be very brave, and certainly when I was health Minister it was an area that I was really keen to look at. I remember we had a very small project on one hospital to see how we could reduce antibiotic use, and I think you have to have that sort of focus on a small area to then see how you can roll out best practice, and that's absolutely something we've done.

I think in Professor Christianne Glossop we had somebody who was very keen to champion it, and certainly the interim CVO has carried on that work. He chairs a UK group on the surveillance of AMR in animals. You ask about the new CVO, who is due to start next week, actually, and will he bring specific expertise. I'm not aware of anything, but currently he's the deputy CVO in the UK and obviously we do work very closely with the UK Government around AMR. They've got a national plan. We've got a national plan. It's really important that we obviously collaborate, so I look forward to seeing what he does bring to the table. But I think it is really important that we continue to have that focus. Obviously the plan that we have from 2019 takes us up to 2024, and we're looking at what changes we can expect with the new implementation plan that the UK Government are bringing forward. That plan will shape our approach here in Wales, so I'm assuming that the new CVO will help us, as we've already started to look at our successor plan going forward. I think it's really important that we play to our strengths. We have unique circumstances, of course, in Wales that need to be looked at too.

You ask about IBERS. Again, I mentioned the new veterinary school that we have in Aberystwyth. I actually haven't had any discussions with IBERS in relation to this, but I will certainly ensure that officials do if we think it would be worthwhile. Around the £2.5 million, we're looking at how interested parties can assess that funding going forward, because we've announced that for the next two years. That is work in progress, and obviously further details will be announced.

I welcome this statement today, because AMR is having a detrimental impact on our farms and on public health. Indeed, by 2050, it is estimated that AMR will cause 10 million deaths across the world, and will cost $100 trillion to the world economy. So, as we consider this, what economic assessment has the Government made of the impact of AMR on the agricultural sector in Wales? And what assessment has been made of the impact on Welsh public health? The results of Arwain DGC are to be welcomed. It appears that the focus on reducing the use of antibiotics through training, technology and data collection has proven to be effective.

For instance, lamb farms have benefited from tightened disinfection protocols and placing greater emphasis on the quality and timeliness of colostrum feeding, as well as targeted selective treatment in lambs. On cattle farms, the trialled use of bolus technology has provided farmers with an early warning system, alerting them to potential infection in a cow when it is in heat or the early stages of calving, and any other health matters such as mastitis or lameness, enabling them to act before the disease develops and the cow reaches the stage where it needs antibiotic treatment. I’d be interested to hear more from the Minister, and in greater detail, what the main takeaways from the project are, and if, or how, the solutions might be scaled up to yield more broad-ranging results for more farms in Wales.

The Animal and Environment Antimicrobial Resistance Delivery Group met last March, and having reviewed the discussion, I have some questions regarding antimicrobial resistance in Wales that I believe the Minister must respond to. It was evident that there were concerns around the impact of pharmaceutical products and untreated sewage in our watercourses and our marine environment. In this regard, I’m curious to hear what assessment the Welsh Government has made of the impact of pharmaceutical material and untreated sewage in our watercourses on antimicrobial resistance in Wales, and how the Welsh Government aims to approach the issue.

Of course, it is a complex matter, and it is necessary to approach this from many perspectives. We must promote good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of disease, and we must promote the responsible use of antibiotics. It is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics that drives antimicrobial resistance. We must, therefore, ensure that the use of antibiotics is limited to necessary doses only, and that they are only used in accordance with veterinary advice. We must also look to promote alternative medicine, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and injections. But the responsibility does not rest solely on the shoulders of our farmers. The Government needs to show leadership. 

Therefore, the Government must provide support and resources to ensure that farmers have the ability to act in accordance with the best practices in terms of hygiene and welfare in order to make the necessary changes. I welcome the announcement of £2.5 million by the Government to continue the efforts for two further years. But I wonder whether the Minister could confirm whether this is new money, or money that's been redirected within the current envelope of the agricultural department, and whether the Minister could answer Sam's question as to whether this is from RDP funding. 

Thank you very much. It is new money. As I say, more details will be worked up, and it's from that programme. 

You ask about the assessment in relation to our sewage. That wouldn't be a piece of work that, obviously, my department would do, but Public Health Wales, I know, is doing some extensive work to address AMR in Wales. I mentioned that we're applying 'one health', because it's very important that we look at it within the health of people and also the health of our animals. Officials do work very closely with public health colleagues, and public health officials actually make up part of our animal environment AMR delivery group, because I think that it is really important that they don't work in silos, and they do work collaboratively together. 

I think you made a very important point about Arwain DGC, because, for me, there's various strands of that. For instance, one of the strands is they raise awareness of the importance of responsible antibiotic usage and encourage best practice, and that includes responsible disposal, so I suppose that goes to a bit of your first point as well. There's a strand that focuses on capturing usage data. What I would really like to have—. Sam Kurtz referred to over a 50 per cent reduction in the use of antibiotics since 2014—that's across the UK. I can't find out what that proportion is in Wales at the current time, so there is a strand, as I say, of the project that does focus on catching that, because I think it would be really good that we have that specific information for Wales on that subject in the very near future.

I think it is really important to say that, of course, sometimes, antibiotics are the only treatment, and that's why we have to protect—. And I think you did make a really important point there that we know that those antibiotics are being used in absolutely the right way.  

Thank you very much, Minister, for this very important statement. I think it's really important that we all realise that, unless we change our ways, we are all going to be in danger of dying from the simplest intervention, for example, if we were to get an infection, break our arm, or some other thing. It would take medicine back to the nineteenth century really. So, this could hardly be more important.

As you say, infection prevention and control is absolutely essential, and I wanted to look at where you want to target reduction of the most high-risk uses. Obviously, I immediately thought about the life of the chicken—these thousands of chickens in sheds, and whether antibiotic use is routine for trying to control infections, because, as with any species, if you pack people together in a small space, an infection by one animal or human will quickly spread elsewhere if it isn't properly ventilated. So, I just wondered whether we can really afford to go on rearing animals in this highly packed far too closely together environment, in order to, obviously, feed the enthusiasm of both producers and consumers for cheap chicken.

Thank you. Information about sector-specific uses is published annually in the veterinary AMR and sales surveillance report, and if you look at it, you will see that, I think, the poultry and the pig sectors are the two sectors that have the highest uses of antibiotics currently. But I don't believe it's helpful to view the issue solely from that perspective; I think it's important to take the holistic approach to the problems, which I referred to, prioritising concerns as and when they occur. But I think it's important to remember that we're not restricting the use of antibiotics; what we are trying to do is make sure that we use them when they are genuinely required. But I think, as I say, you can see that the poultry sector—that data is very available. So, it could be that that is an area that we will need to look at further if that is, indeed, the case.

Thank you, Minister.