By Kerry Maxwell, communications manager, British Poultry Council
This month we released 2025 Antibiotic Stewardship Report.
It’s the fifth one I’ve helped produce and it still feels as important as the first. I’m very aware that antibiotic use is a technical issue, but I think everyone will agree with me when I say that it is equally a test of our values, priorities, and commitment to do the right thing.
We always aim to ensure our reporting is active, so when looking to put this report together I had a think about how to make it resonate beyond just the numbers. That isn’t to say the numbers aren’t important, obviously, but the last thing any of us want to see is our Antibiotic Stewardship Reports becoming a scoreboard rather than a tool for progress. We want our reports to highlight our continued leadership but also spark curiosity and help people understand why what we’re doing matters, not just record it.
That’s why, this year, we’ve taken a fresh approach. Rather than simply reporting on the numbers – though you will still find all the relevant data in there – we wanted to show the thinking that sits behind them. So, we have put together a series of postcards to showcase how intention drives results when it comes to our antibiotics.
Just as good stewardship cuts through complexity with clarity, focus, and purpose, each one of our postcards highlights a “design principle” behind the BPC Antibiotic Stewardship, showing not just what we have reduced, but why it matters.
The safe use of antibiotics has been prioritised by the poultry meat industry since 2011. Ours was the first sector to voluntarily develop a strategy for responsible use and, in 2025, we remain under Government-approved RUMA species-specific targets.
We monitor levels of use and treat birds under strict veterinary direction if required. And as a result, we have reported an 83.22% reduction in total antibiotic use since 2012, and a 99.34% reduction in the use of Critically Important Antibiotics.
And while the numbers continue to show positive progress, it is our design principles that show direction. Stewardship is about designing for continuous improvement, responsible practice, and long-term contribution. It reflects a way of thinking that puts poultry health, public trust, and food security at the core of how we operate.
Therefore, I think we absolutely have every right to be proud of what we have achieved and confident about where it can take us next.
Take a look at our full report (including our postcards) on the BPC website.