Arabic version: وكالات تاسمانيا تسائل عن الموافقة على استخدام المضادات الحيوية في سمك السلمون

Three government agencies in Tasmania have raised concerns over the scientific evidence supporting the approval of the antibiotic florfenicol for use in Atlantic salmon farms. According to ABC News, Tasmania’s Health Department, Environment Protection Authority (EPA), and Department of Natural Resources and Environment questioned the adequacy of the application submitted to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

The agencies highlighted a lack of sufficient data regarding potential risks to human health and the issue of antibiotic resistance. They also expressed concerns that the approval could lead to trade complications for wild fisheries, especially after traces of florfenicol were detected in non-target wild fisheries up to 10 kilometres away from salmon farms.

The salmon industry has until March 2 to demonstrate to the federal regulator that it can meet trade criteria following these findings. The initial application for florfenicol was approved in November for the south-east region, leading to a second application for the east coast, which has not yet been approved.

The agencies argued that the application did not provide robust evidence relevant to Tasmanian circumstances, particularly regarding the safety and environmental impact of florfenicol. They noted that laboratory results were still pending, and the EPA had not confirmed the antibiotic’s benefits in real-world conditions.

In response, Salmon Tasmania defended the application process, asserting that florfenicol is a proven treatment for the bacterial infection affecting salmon and does not harm the environment. Meanwhile, Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff criticized the haste in pursuing the antibiotic’s approval without adequate evidence.