Despite concerns expressed by health professionals, supported by health and animal welfare groups, the European Medicines Agency has not proposed including the life-saving antibiotic colistin in the EU’s upcoming list of antimicrobials reserved for treatment of certain infections in humans.

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe sent a letter to EU Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriaides reiterating concerns that colistin is being misused and overused in food production, undermining its life-saving potential. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) did not include the drug in its advice to the European Commission.