Germany further restricts antibiotics overuse in animal husbandry

BERLIN, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Germany has tightened up its rule against antibiotics abuse in livestock and poultry Friday with a regulation amendment approval.

The amendment passed by German upper house Bundesrat at the same day forbids the use of "last resort" antibiotics, normally for human treatments, in farm animals.

Veterinarians are required to optimize the therapeutic schedule after identifying the pathogenic bacteria to reduce the resistance to drugs, according to the new rule.

German agriculture minister Christian Schmidt called the further restrictions "an important cornerstone to curb antibiotic resistance". The new regulation aims to ensure "infectious diseases in human and animal can be effectively handled in future," he said.