NEW DELHI: The Union Health Ministry has decided to prohibit the use of two groups of antibiotics in animals, citing concerns over risks to humans and the availability of safer alternatives.
The proposed ban covers carboxypenicillins and phosphonic acid derivatives, along with formulations containing them. It would prohibit their import, manufacture, sale and distribution for animal use.
The ministry issued the draft notification under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, after consulting the Drugs Technical Advisory Board(DTAB), recently. The government has invited objections and suggestions and will consider the proposal after the 30-day consultation period.
The move is part of India’s efforts to restrict the use of critically important antimicrobials in animals and protect their effectiveness in human medicine.
The DTAB discussed the proposal at its 93rd meeting on February 16, 2026. It considered recommendations from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) on restricting the drugs in food-producing animals.
After deliberation, the board recommended prohibiting the manufacture, import, sale and distribution of carboxypenicillins and phosphonic acid derivatives for animal use.
The decision followed an earlier review of 37 antimicrobial medicines listed under European Union rules for reservation for human treatment.
In April 2025, the DTAB had recommended prohibiting 34 of these antimicrobials for animal use. It kept three groups aside for further examination: carboxypenicillins, combinations of cephalosporins with beta-lactamase inhibitors, and phosphonic acid derivatives.
The board later received further recommendations from DAHD on the two groups now covered by the draft notification.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms develop the ability to survive medicines designed to kill or control them. Excessive or inappropriate use of antimicrobials can contribute to this problem.
Some antibiotics are particularly important for treating serious infections in people. Limiting unnecessary exposure to such medicines in animals can help preserve their effectiveness for human treatment.
The European Union has similarly reserved certain antimicrobial medicines for human use to protect their effectiveness and support efforts against antimicrobial resistance.
Carboxypenicillins include drugs such as ticarcillin, while phosphonic acid derivatives include fosfomycin. The World Organisation for Animal Health classifies phosphonic acid derivatives as critically important for human health and recommends restricting their veterinary use to specific circumstances.
The latest proposal follows India’s earlier action against 34 antimicrobial medicines for animal use.
The list included several important antibiotic groups, such as carbapenems, penems, monobactams, glycopeptides, oxazolidinones and other newer antibiotics.
It also covered a number of antiviral medicines, including amantadine, baloxavir marboxil, favipiravir, laninamivir, molnupiravir, oseltamivir and ribavirin.
Nitazoxanide, an antiprotozoal medicine, was also included.
The government had earlier cited the need to reserve these medicines for human treatment and reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
The two groups now under consideration were kept out of the initial restriction pending further recommendations from the animal husbandry department. The DTAB has now backed their prohibition as well.
The ministry is now seeking objections and suggestions regarding its draft proposal. It will examine the feedback before taking a final decision.
If notified in its proposed form, the restriction would cover the import, manufacture, sale and distribution of carboxypenicillins and phosphonic acid derivatives and their formulations for animal use.
