The government has said that it will aim to reduce the use of antibiotic in animal medicine by 25 per cent over the next five year. It will focus on developing alternative medicines.

In 2006, the EU banned the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in all EU countries. Vets must also demonstrate that antibiotics are being used in appropriate circumstances.

In 1999, the Ministry of Agriculture began monitoring the sale of antibiotics.

"Antibiotics are a specific drug, and are essential to animal health. It is for this reason that we must begin to think differently about how and why we are using them."

Figures from France show that antibiotic use fell 12.1 per cent between 2007 and 2010.

The Ministry's plan aims to reduce the use of antibiotics when treating animals and to preserve long-term therapeutic effectiveness of antibiotics.

The Ministry has set out five priorities.

1. To promote good practice and raise awareness of the risk of antibiotic resistance, and preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics.

2. Develop alternatives to avoid the use of antibiotics.

3. Strengthen management practices to reduce risks.

4. Strengthen the monitoring of antibiotic consumption and antibiotic resistance.

5. Promote European research and international initiatives.