Labelling and quality of antimicrobial products used in chicken flocks in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

Background The Mekong Delta of Vietnam is a hotspot of antimicrobial use (AMU), but there is no information on the quality of the labelling and strength of antimicrobial products used in poultry production. Methods Based on a large random sample of farms, we identified the 20 most used antimicrobial products in the area, and investigated their antimicrobial active ingredient (AAI) content by UPLC‐MS/MS (91 analytical tests). Results Only 17/59 (28.8%) batches contained all AAIs within 10% of the declared strength. Worryingly, 65.0% products provided in their label preparation guidelines for both therapeutic and prophylactic use. Withdrawal times for both meat and eggs were stated in 8/20 (40%) products. Conclusion Results highlight deficiencies in quality and labelling contents that undermine authorities’ efforts to discourage inappropriate use of antimicrobials.
We analysed the quality (strength) and labelling of 20 most commonly used antimicrobial products from a large representative survey of chicken farms in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. The study identified a large proportion of products (71.9%) containing quantities of active ingredient outside the permitted range, as well while 65% of these products explicitly advised on prophylactic use (i.e. to prevent disease).