European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC): 2009 - 2023

The European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC) project collected information from 2009 to 2023 on how antimicrobial medicines are used in animals across the European Union (EU). This type of information is essential to identifying possible risk factors that could lead to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance in animals.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) started this project in September 2009, following a request from the European Commission to develop a harmonised approach for the collection and reporting of data on the use of antimicrobial agents in animals from EU and European Economic Area (EEA) Member States.

Voluntary participation in the ESVAC project increased from 9 to 31 reporting countries over the years.

• Standardised units of measurement for veterinary antimicrobials

The interactive ESVAC database allows users to access a summary of the specific ESVAC data they are interested in, including data for a specific country or sales of a particular antimicrobial class.

Users can use the database to customise charts, maps and graphs.

Access the database directly via the button below:

The annual ESVAC report presents data on the volume of sales of veterinary antimicrobial medicinal products collected from the 31 countries of the ESVAC network. It also highlights key changes and trends over time.

Scientists, veterinarians and other animal healthcare professionals, risk assessors and policy makers in Member States use the results of the annual report as a reference for antimicrobial policies and for guidance on the responsible use of antimicrobials.

ESVAC 2022 report

The final ESVAC report, published in November 2023, shows that sales of antimicrobials for use in food-producing animals in Europe fell considerably since 2011. 

Overall, most participating countries have been successful in reducing the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals. The latest results show the potential in other countries as well.

Sales have fallen particularly sharply for antimicrobials in AMEG Category B, also classified by the World Health Organization as critically important in human medicine:

Since 2011, sales decreased in 24 countries. Of these, 21 countries show a decrease of more than 15% (and up to 68%). Throughout this period, sales have increased in only 1 country (55% compared to 2011).

The EU Farm to Fork strategy aims to bring a 50% reduction in total sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and aquaculture by 2030 compared with 2018 figures.

By 2022, EU Member States had achieved just over half of the reduction target set for 2030, as shown in the enclosed visual. 

The metrics featured for the years 2018 (118,3), 2022 (84,8) and 2030 (59,2) show sales in milligram of active substance sold by population correction unit (mg / PCU).

For more information, see Population correction unit.

An overview of country-specific trends in the volume of sales of veterinary antimicrobial medicinal products between 2010 and 2021 is available in the country reports below.

Each one of the 31 countries has provided information corresponding to their data, and each section presents changes of sales by antimicrobial class, along with a brief summary and discussion of the data. 

Country reports on sales trends (2010-2022)

To obtain standardised data, participating countries provide their sales data of veterinary antimicrobials and animal population data based on a data reporting protocol and data collection form, which are available below. EMA processes the data according to the protocol.

The protocol outlines the:

EMA and the national ESVAC contact points revised the data reporting protocol in March 2021, including updated ESVAC conversation factors.

Until further notice, the submission of antimicrobial sales data for 2020 and onwards should follow the revised protocol.

• data submission requirements;
• instructions for data quality confirmation;
• conversion factors EMA uses when processing the data.

The reporting forms and protocols that had been in use in previous years are available for reference below.

The amounts of veterinary antimicrobial agents sold are linked to the animal demographics in each country. In order to normalise the sales data for the animal population that can be subjected to treatment with antimicrobial agents, a population correction unit (PCU) is used in the ESVAC as a proxy for the size of the animal population. The way the PCU is calculated can be seen in Appendix 2 of the first ESVAC report.

To enable a more detailed analysis of trends in antimicrobial consumption, ESVAC is preparing a system for the collection of harmonised and standardised data on consumption by animal species.

As a first step, EMA has established standardised units of measurement for reporting antimicrobial consumption in specific animal species, called the 'defined daily dose' and 'defined course dose' for animals. For more information, see:

• Standardised units of measurement for veterinary antimicrobials

In February 2018, EMA published guidance on reporting antimicrobial consumption data by animal species and an updated questions-and-answers document (Q&A) clarifying the rationale for certain recommendations, taking into account comments received during public consultation:

• Guidance on collection and provision of national data on antimicrobial use by animal species/categories
• Q&As for the guidance on collection and provision of national data on antimicrobial use by animal species/categories
• Overview of comments received on draft 'Guidance on provision of data on antimicrobial use by animal species from national data collection systems'

On 26 April 2017, the European Commission organised a workshop with EMA on data collection on consumption of veterinary antimicrobials in Europe. There was general consensus among stakeholders on the need to collect data on antimicrobial use by animal species, and on the benefits of such data collection.

In July 2018, EMA launched a project for stratifying sales data of veterinary antimicrobials by animal species. This enables an approximate estimation of consumption by different species, by allocating a proportion of the total sales to each species a veterinary antimicrobial is used in.

EMA has published a protocol for collecting sales data for stratification:

• Stratification of sales data of antimicrobials by species - Data collection protocol 2017

The protocol is based on ongoing experience with a pilot project with six volunteer Member States that has been testing this methodology and possible approaches to be used in EU/EEA Member States.

EMA has developed an ESVAC strategy for 2016-2020. The strategy takes into account stakeholder feedback provided during public consultation:

• ESVAC vision and strategy 2016-2020
• Overview of comments received on ESVAC vision and strategy 2016-2020
• Draft ESVAC vision and strategy 2016-2020

During the next five years, ESVAC will continue collecting and publishing overall sales data from as many EU and EEA countries as possible.

The strategy aims to enable the analysis of European-level trends in antimicrobial consumption per animal species, using data that is standardised between countries.

EMA will bring together the best European expertise for harmonising data collection and analysis methodologies. It will provide guidance on the collection of data per species, with a specific focus on the three major food-producing ones: pigs, cattle and broilers (poultry).

The Agency holds meetings on monitoring the consumption of veterinary antimicrobial agents in Europe, bringing together representatives of Member States and other stakeholders:

• ESVAC stakeholders meeting (02/03/2016)
• ESVAC stakeholders meeting (03/03/2015)
• ESVAC workshop on testing of system for data collection by species (09/02/2015)
• ESVAC stakeholders meeting (05/02/2014)
• ESVAC stakeholders meeting (18/03/2013)
• ESVAC annual network meeting 2012 (14-15/02/2012)
• Report from the Workshop on collection of data on antimicrobial agents by species and on unit(s) of measurement (13-14/10/2011)
• Meeting with stakeholders on monitoring sales of veterinary antimicrobial agents in Europe (28/09/2010)
• Meeting on monitoring of sales of veterinary antimicrobial agents in Europe (25/11/2009)