In view of intensifying global concerns over Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), the European Union has amended its regulatory framework governing imports of animal-origin food products. The update to EU Regulation (EU) 2021/405 through Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 187/2026/EC introduces enhanced safeguards aimed at mitigating AMR risks in food chains. These provisions are scheduled to enter into force in September 2026, and compliance is mandatory for continued access to the EU market.
Without timely alignment with the new regulation, India faced the risk of restricted exports of key animal-based products, impacting sectors such as aquaculture, poultry, dairy, and others. Given that India currently exports fish and fishery products valued at around USD 1.125 billion annually to the EU, the stakes were significant.
Proactive Indian Engagement Ensures Continued Market Access
Thanks to proactive engagement by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, in close coordination with the Export Inspection Council (EIC) and relevant industry stakeholders, India has been successfully included in the list of countries authorised to export aquaculture products, eggs, honey, and animal casings to the European Union beyond September 2026. Conditional provisions also apply for milk and poultry products, ensuring seamless market access while compliance mechanisms are strengthened.
This achievement reflects sustained diplomatic and technical engagement with the European Commission, as well as fortified Official Control Systems for inspection, testing, and certification aligned with stringent EU standards. Authorities such as the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and other sector regulators will continue supporting exporters to adapt to the revised regulatory regime.
The Indian Government has reiterated its commitment to enhancing food safety and quality assurance, not only to preserve access to the European market but also to boost global competitiveness across animal-origin product sectors.
What the Indian Medical Association and Other Medical Bodies Are Doing
1. National Alliance of Medical Professionals on AMR (NAMP-AMR)
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has taken a leading role in mobilising the medical community against AMR. In 2024, the IMA formed the National Alliance of Medical Professionals on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAMP-AMR) a coalition of 52 medical specialty organisations to drive coordinated national action, strategy development, and professional engagement on AMR issues.
2. AMR Smart Hospitals and Stewardship Projects
IMA has launched the “IMA AMR Smart Hospital Project” to strengthen Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) practices across participating hospitals. This initiative sets benchmarks for monitoring resistance trends, improving antibiotic use, and preventing the spread of resistant pathogens within healthcare settings.
3. Commonwealth and Global Collaborations
The IMA is also active in broader partnerships:
- It helped shape the London Resolution on Antimicrobial Resistance 2025 through the Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA), which commits member nations to collaborative AMR governance, education, and stewardship frameworks. This resolution includes commitments such as establishing AMR focal points, integrating AMR education in medical training, and conducting annual AMR-focused sessions.
- The Commonwealth Alliance of Medical Professionals on AMR (CAMP-AMR) was launched to extend coordinated AMR efforts within Commonwealth countries.
4. State-Level and Grassroots Initiatives
State chapters of the IMA are forming AMR containment committees to implement local awareness campaigns, educational workshops for doctors and health workers, and community outreach to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use.
5. Collaborations with WHO and Health Partners
IMA collaborates with international organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and domestic bodies such as the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to standardise AMR messaging, promote best practices, and build capacity for surveillance and stewardship programmes.
6. Policy Advocacy
Under new IMA leadership, the association is pushing for:
- Greater oversight of over-the-counter antibiotic sales.
- Mechanisms to recognise hospitals with good antibiotic-use practices.
- Strengthening antibiotic stewardship in both public and private health systems.
Why AMR Is a Serious and Escalating Global Threat With Relevance to India
The strengthened EU regulations are a response to the escalating global threat of antimicrobial resistance a phenomenon in which bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites evolve to resist drugs designed to kill them. AMR undermines modern medicine and jeopardises routine treatments, surgeries, cancer therapies, and food-animal production systems.
Global and Regional AMR Data
- According to the World Health Organization’s Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) 2025 report, one in every six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 was resistant to at least one antibiotic a marked increase in resistance driven by misuse and overuse of antimicrobials.
- Resistance trends are especially high in South-East Asia (including India) and the Eastern Mediterranean regions, where nearly one in three infections are now antibiotic-resistant, far exceeding the global average.
India: A Critical AMR Hotspot
Recent research underscores that India faces some of the most severe AMR challenges globally:
- A multicountry Lancet study found that over 80 % of studied Indian patients carry multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) the highest rate among countries examined, far above rates in Italy, the US, and the Netherlands. Many of these organisms are resistant even to “last-resort” antibiotics.
- National AMR surveillance data reveal rapid increases in resistance across key pathogens such as E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii with carbapenem resistance rising significantly over recent years. These resistant bacteria are common causes of serious hospital infections.
- Annual deaths attributed to AMR in India are high and projected to rise sharply; by 2050, up to 2 million deaths in India could be linked to AMR, with global estimates reaching 10 million if unchecked.
Indian Health Leadership Labels AMR a “Silent Pandemic”
India’s health policymakers have recognised AMR as a critical threat:
- The National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) 2.0 (2025–29), launched by the Union Health Ministry, describes AMR as a “pandemic” posing serious risks to public health, surgical outcomes and neonatal survival.
- Medical experts at recent conferences have warned that unchecked antibiotic misuse especially over-the-counter sales without prescriptions fuels resistance and could push routine infections into untreatable categories.
Why This Matters for Trade and Public Health
AMR is not just a clinical problem it affects food safety, livestock production, environmental health, and international trade. The EU’s updated AMR regulation reflects growing global regulatory emphasis on curbing AMR risks in food systems. India’s ability to meet these standards safeguards export markets and encourages stronger domestic frameworks for antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance.
By aligning public health strategies with international requirements and fostering responsible antimicrobial use across human, animal, and environmental sectors, India is better positioned to protect both market access and human health outcomes in the face of the escalating AMR crisis.
