Joint Order No. 1253/492/187 “On the establishment of the monitoring system of antimicrobial resistance of zoonotic and commensal bacteria in the context of the implementation of the "One Health" approach.

This Joint Order establishes the monitoring system of antimicrobial resistance of zoonotic and commensal bacteria in the context of the implementation of the "One Health" approach. The National Agency for Public Health shall be appointed as the institution responsible for coordination of activities related to the quality control of investigations regarding AMR in microbiological laboratories of the human sector, animal health and food safety within the network. The National Agency for Food Safety shall be appointed as the responsible institution of the organization of functioning, coordination (including the evidence sampling strategy) of the system of monitoring of antimicrobial resistance of zoonotic and commensal bacteria in farm animals and in food of animal origin. The Microbiological Laboratory of the National Agency for Public Health shall be appointed as a reference laboratory within the antimicrobial resistance monitoring system of zoonotic and commensal bacteria. The purpose of this Regulation is to establish the criteria and conditions for operation of the AMR monitoring system of zoonotic and commensal bacteria. The data collected within the AMR monitoring system of zoonotic and commensal bacteria will provide the responsible central authorities with reliable information for elaboration of strategies and prevention of the development of the phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance, substantiation of decisions and interventions in the field of use and consumption of antimicrobials. The objectives of the AMR monitoring system of zoonotic and commensal bacteria are: (a) collecting comparable and valid data; (b) analysis of the trends regarding the phenomenon of resistance at the last level; (c) provision of reports and analytical information regarding AMR to the Ministry of Health, the National Agency for Food Safety and other central authorities, for substantiating decisions and interventions in the field of use and consumption of antimicrobials; (d) increasing the quality of microbiological laboratory diagnosis and access to services provided by microbiological laboratory at all levels of AMR supervision; (e) substantiation for the prudent administration of antimicrobial substances; (f) monitoring the factors that influence the appearance and spread of microorganisms resistant to antimicrobial substances; and (g) providing standardized and comparable data for quantitative and professional communities to ensure the exchange of information, the development of policies and the implementation of the best international practices.