RUMA logo
RUMA CA&E Announces National AMU Reduction Targets For Companion Animals
2 weeks ago 
125 views
The Responsible use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA CA&E), has this week announced the first ever national AMU reduction targets for companion animals; targets which have been carefully defined following feedback and input from a wide range of sector stakeholders and which have secured widespread support from representatives of the profession and AMR experts.
The targets have been developed by one of the Alliance’s sub-groups - The RUMA CA&E Targets and Measures Working Group* (T&MWG). This sub-group comprises companion animal experts representing all parts of the companion animal sector, who have come together to formulate a set of realistic and achievable AMU reduction targets. The group has looked at AMS strategies, trends, usage breakdown, and guidelines currently in use at a national, group, and practice level, plus individual and disease-based considerations for the measurement of antimicrobial use.
National picture targets
Ambition:
- Overall reduction in AMU by 30% (DDDVet dog/cat antimicrobial use)
- Reduce the use of HP-CIAs in cats by 50%
These reductions will apply to the 2024 AMU results and specific measures will be communicated after the VARSS report publication.
To help achieve these national targets a number of condition specific ‘In Practice Focus Areas’ have also been defined:
To support the delivery of the national reduction targets there will be a focus on reducing the use of antimicrobials in conditions where frequent use and evidence is starting to emerge to suggest it is not likely to be effective. In 2026 the condition specific activity will focus on:
- Antimicrobial use in cat fight wounds - contributing to reductions in overall usage and the targeted reduction in HPCIA usage in cats.
- Antimicrobials use in acute, self-limiting diarrhoea in dogs - contributing to reductions in overall usage and ensuring use of appropriate antibiotics when they are necessary.
Resources to help support companion animal practices to reduce the use of antimicrobials in these conditions are currently being developed by RUMA CA&E and will be launched in 2026.
Time horizon
5 years to achieve these targets
In order to promote ongoing focus and continuous improvement, RUMA CA&E has also identified AMU areas of focus for years beyond 2026 and will be sharing further details during 2026.
The targets were launched at a webinar on 11 November. During the webinar an audience poll asked: ‘Do you think the National AMU reduction targets for companion animals are achievable?’ and 89% of those who answered said ‘YES’.
RUMA CA&E Secretary General, Steve Howard, says: “The targets have been developed after much consideration and discussion by the RUMA CA&E Targets and Measures Working Group. The group has taken into account recent trends in sales data and evidence that has emerged in recent years which suggests that the use of antimicrobials for the treatment of certain conditions in companion animals, is not always necessary or effective. The targets have been defined by looking at current baselines of sales data and by considering the opportunities to reduce use in specific conditions.”
Chair of the RUMA CA&E Targets and Measures Working Group, Kit Sturgess, says: “Setting appropriate targets is always challenging and the RUMA CA&E Targets & Measures Working Group is acutely aware that targets can have unintended consequences – something that will continue to be taken into account as these targets are developed and reported against moving forwards. The impact of achieving our ambitions would see responsible reductions in antimicrobial use, reduced resistance levels over time, protection of the efficacy of these important medicines for longer and maintaining the use of non-critically important antibiotics. These Targets are not about stopping antimicrobial use, but instead sharply focusing any use on patients that will benefit from being given antimicrobials.”
RUMA CA&E Chair, Gwyn Jones, says: “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a rising global threat — projected to cause up to 39 million deaths by 2050 if left unchecked. Overuse or inappropriate use of antimicrobials can increase AMR and so it is only right that the CA&E sector does all it can to protect the efficacy of these important medicines by only using them at the right time, right place, and in the right situation (reduce, refine, replace) in order to protect the wellbeing of people, pets and the planet. The announcement of these targets marks a real milestone, and we are very grateful to the stakeholders that have helped shape them. We are looking forward to continuing to collaborate with the profession on achieving these targets moving forwards.”
Steve adds: “The veterinary profession has a key role to play in the One Health agenda, which requires different disciplines and sectors to work together to tackle complex health issues, combining expertise from various fields like veterinary medicine, public health, and environmental science. UK livestock sectors for example, have voluntarily reduced the use of antibiotics by nearly 60% over the last decade and, whilst livestock and companion animal and equine sectors are very different, the principles of reducing unnecessary use to reduce AMR are very much aligned.”
RUMA CA&E will provide annual updates on the National AMU Targets for companion animals in its annual progress report. With regard to resistance reporting, this is an ongoing project led by the VMD; RUMA CA&E recognises there could be projects to look to evidence this in the future and will continue dialogue with the VMD.
Ten years of CA&E sales data show that the collective efforts of the sector have resulted in significant AMU reductions, but this could plateau if there isn’t sustained focus through ongoing and targeted activity to help secure ongoing reductions. Steve says: “We have always acknowledged that there has been great work going on in the CA&E sector for a number of years, led by a variety of associations, organisations and stakeholders. One of the drivers for the formation of RUMA CA&E was the desire and need to be able to demonstrate the progress the sectors have made. We are not aiming to duplicate or take credit away from those stakeholders that have already put a lot of time and effort into this area - we want to help keep that momentum going. We are in a position as a sector Alliance to inform and influence future progress through continued collaborative working with all key stakeholders, and by introducing some clear national reduction targets which helps focus hearts and minds on this important issue.”
Quotes of support for the launch of the RUMA CA&E National AMU Reduction Targets for Companion Animals
- Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): “Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health threat. RUMA Agriculture has shown what is possible in their journey to improve antibiotic stewardship in farming, and I’m pleased to see RUMA CA&E now applying that same focus to pets. These new targets are a vital part of delivering the UK’s AMR National Action Plan, especially given the close contact between people and animals. This is a bold step that will help preserve antibiotics for future generations.”
- Abi Seager CEO, VMD: "We welcome RUMA CA&E’s new national antibiotic reduction targets, a significant step in advancing antibiotic stewardship in dogs and cats. This is alongside the focus on specific conditions such as cat fight wounds and acute self-limiting diarrhoea in dogs. The evidence-based targets, which focus on reducing both overall use and the use of last-resort Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics reflect the profession’s commitment to responsible antibiotic use and protecting human and animal health. We are proud to have supported this collaborative process and look forward to working together to ensure these targets deliver real-world impact."
- Julian Hoad, BSAVA President: “Antimicrobial resistance poses a serious threat to both veterinary and human medicine. BSAVA strongly supports RUMA CA&E’s evidence-based approach to reducing antimicrobial use and ensuring appropriate prescribing in the companion animal sector. We welcome these new national AMU reduction targets that will guide our profession toward more sustainable and effective antimicrobial stewardship.”
- Dr Gwen Rees, British Veterinary Association (BVA) Junior Vice President: “The new antimicrobial use targets for small animal vets from RUMA CA&E, which BVA is a proud member of, offer a helpful model for reducing and refining the use of these critical medicines. By taking steps such as using antimicrobials to treat infections in dogs and cats only when necessary and backed by testing, small animal vets can help achieve positive reductions in their use and preserve these essential medicines for both people as well as animals in the future.”
- Julia Shrubb, CANTER Chair: "The introduction of these antimicrobial use reduction targets are a significant milestone in the collective effort to protect the effectiveness of vital antimicrobial medicines. By setting evidence-based, achievable goals in such a collaborative way, the RUMA CA&E Targets and Measures Working Group is providing clear direction for continued progress to tackle antimicrobial resistance within the profession. This collaborative approach is key to driving meaningful change, a principle that underpins CANTER, which, while addressing a different challenge, shares many parallels. This collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and responsible stewardship, will help preserve the efficacy of essential antibiotics and protect the health of animals, people and the environment for the long term."
- Cat McLaughlin RUMA Agriculture Chair: “We are delighted to see the launch of the national AMU reduction targets for companion animals by our sibling organisation, RUMA CA&E. This sees the culmination of a great deal of work and input from right across the companion animal sector to define a set of targets and is the first time any such targets have been proposed for companion animals. The whole reason for RUMA CA&E coming into existence has been to help drive more collaboration and focus on medicines stewardship, and to highlight the great AMS work that is already underway in the companion animal and equine sectors. We know from our experience across the livestock sector the value of setting realistic targets with the RUMA Agriculture Targets Task Force (TTF), which has seen the use of antibiotics in livestock voluntarily reduce by nearly 60% over the past decade. Targets give everyone a clear focus and helps those that work in the animal medicines profession continue to demonstrate their commitment to the responsible use of medicines.”
- Katie Mantell, RCVS Knowledge Chief Executive Officer: "We are really pleased to have been part of the RUMA CA&E Targets and Measures Group that developed these targets. RCVS Knowledge is committed to working with our colleagues in the sector to work towards only using antibiotics when necessary and we look forward to seeing how we can support further efforts to improve the responsible use of antibiotics together."
- Jonathan Statham, Chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England (AHWBE): “Managing the interaction between animals, people and the environment in the shared ‘One health’ agenda is essential if we are to preserve effective antimicrobial use for the future. Challenging thinking to establish new norms of ‘best practice’ is important in this regard. Responsible reduction targets for companion animals that acknowledge the vital role that antimicrobials play in supporting animal health and welfare are welcome. These targets show the path to more sustainable and responsible use to mitigate the risk of antimicrobial resistance.”
*The Targets and Measures Working Group and organisations that contributed to the AMU reduction discussions include : RUMA CA&E, RVC, Linnaeus, IVC Evidensia, CVS Vets, Vet Partners, VMD, RCVS Knowledge, BVA, BSAVA, BEVA, VetEnvoy, VetCompass, SAVSNET, Covetrus, MWI, NVS – VetIT, SPVS, FIVP, NOAH, MARS, Vets4Pets, Vets Now.as well as a number of independent small animal specialists from across the industry.
More from RUMA
- RUMA Agriculture Targets Task Force releases third cycle of AMU targets for UK livestock sectors
- Latest RUMA Agriculture Targets Task Force report released - the last of the TTF2 cycle marking another important and valuable phase in the livestock industry’s antibiotic stewardship journey ahead of TTF3 launch
- Latest RUMA Targets Task Force report reveals UK livestock sectors continue to make positive progress on antibiotic use targets
- RUMA 2023 conference - a one health view on the responsible use of medicines
- Veterinary sector comes together again for Antibiotic Amnesty in November
