Long-term reduction strategy delivers results.
Belgian pig farming reduced its antibiotic use by 56.2% between 2018 and 2025. This achievement reflects years of sustained efforts by pig farmers and veterinarians, the sector’s strong commitment and the support of the AMCRA knowledge centre. The additional 15.9% reduction recorded in 2025 compared with the previous year demonstrates that further progress remains possible, despite the considerable improvements already achieved. This is the key message of the 2025 BelVet-SAC report¹.
Now in its 17th edition, the annual report confirms that the Belgian pig farming sector continues to make steady progress in reducing antibiotic use. For many years, the sector has focused on transparency, objective performance indicators and targeted reduction measures. Continuous data collection and benchmarking enable farms to assess their performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
The report highlights the pioneering role of AB Register, the antibiotic registration system within the BePork quality assurance scheme for Belgian pork. This system provides a solid foundation for monitoring and further reducing antibiotic use. AMCRA plays a key role in this progress. As Belgium’s knowledge centre for responsible antibiotic use and the fight against antimicrobial resistance in animals, AMCRA combines scientific expertise with systematic analysis of antibiotic consumption data and clearly defined reduction targets. This evidence-based approach helps develop measures that guide farms in their efforts to further reduce antibiotic use.
The figures from recent years speak for themselves. Between 2018 and 2025, the median intensity of antibiotic use per farm decreased by 46.7% in fattening pigs, 39.4% in weaned piglets and almost 66% in suckling piglets. Benchmarking results confirm this positive trend. In 2025, more than six in ten pig farms achieved green benchmark status across all pig categories present on their farms, representing the best possible classification. This means their antibiotic use consistently remained below the threshold for low users. Among farms with fattening pigs, nearly three quarters received a green classification, while the figure exceeded 80% for farms with suckling piglets.
At the same time, the proportion of farms with persistently high antibiotic use fell from 2.6% in 2024 to 1.6% in 2025. Particularly noteworthy is the extremely limited use of certain antibiotics that are critically important for human medicine. In 2025, (fluoro)quinolones were used on just 0.1% of pig farms. Third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins were hardly used at all. Colistin use also declined significantly: the treatment-day-based indicator of antibiotic use in pig farming fell by 33.5% between 2023 and 2025. The animal feed sector is also making an important contribution to reducing antibiotic use. More than a decade of joint efforts has resulted in a 91.5% reduction in the quantity of antibiotic active substances used in pig feed in 2025 compared with the 2011 reference year.
Furthermore, the production of medicated feed containing antibiotics will be completely phased out in Belgium by 31 December 2026 at the latest. Through its Vision 2030, AMCRA sets out the next steps towards more responsible antibiotic use, improved animal health and welfare, and further efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance. These include more stringent reduction programmes, with a particular focus on infection prevention and disease management. “Although the collective commitment throughout the entire value chain is clearly delivering results, there is no reason to rest on our laurels. Quite the contrary: the potential for further improvement has not yet been exhausted. The continued decline in antibiotic use and the positive developments at farm level demonstrate that Belgian pig farming is well positioned to maintain this course and build on the progress achieved,” says Joris Coenen, Manager of the Belgian Meat Office in Brussels.
