Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF) announced a new policy on the use of antimicrobials in its livestock and aquaculture businesses as a response to public demand for more stringent food safety standards.
The new standard, detailed in the company's "global vision on antimicrobial use in animals", applies to all company units in Thailand and abroad, said Adirek Sripratak, chief executive of CPF.
Antibiotics use in animals has grasped global attention as it concerns food safety and public health, and the company adopted the policy to minimise antimicrobial resistance risks, he said.
The global antibiotics vision will take effect immediately for implementation globally by 2020, according to company documents.
The plan must also align with sustainable development practices, as well as emphasise disease prevention practices that will minimise the need for antimicrobial use, said Mr Adirek.
Once in effect, the policy will require antimicrobials "that are medically important for human medicine" to be used only for therapeutic uses under veterinary oversight.
The policy will also ban the use of shared-class antimicrobials medically important for human medicine for growth promotion purposes. It will also compel the company to work with global experts and partners to identify new and better ways to enhance animal welfare while reducing the need for antimicrobials.
Last year, CPF signed the "One Health Summit Priorities", a pact formed in Washington, which sought the reduction of antibiotics in the production of safe food.
This year CPF will participate in the Antibiotic Awareness Week held at the Food and Agriculture Organisation headquarters during Nov 13-17, 2017.