Global Regulators Highlight Labeling in Antimicrobial Resistance Fight

Global regulatory leaders reaffirmed the critical role of antimicrobial labeling for appropriate use and disposal in the global response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the Second Global Regulatory Authorities Summit on AMR held from January 14 to 15, 2026. The leaders concluded that clear, practical, and enforceable labeling requirements can lead to significant public health benefits across human, animal, and environmental sectors through a One Health approach.

Convened by the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR, the Summit brought together more than 200 participants from national and regional regulatory authorities across human health, animal health, and environmental sectors, along with international organizations and technical partners. Discussions reflected global, regional, and national regulatory perspectives, highlighting diverse implementation contexts as well as shared practices and challenges.

Dr. Thanawat Tiensin, Assistant Director-General and Chief Veterinarian of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), emphasized the significance of enhancing regulations within agri-food systems. "We need to concentrate on strengthening regulatory practices for medicines in general, and particularly for antimicrobials. Proper regulations governing antimicrobial medicines throughout their entire life cycle demand collaborative action across multiple sectors. The agri-food system is a collective responsibility, and it serves to benefit us all."

In his opening remarks, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the critical role of regulators. “As regulators, you play a vital role in translating the political commitments countries have made into real-world practice. Labeling is a powerful tool to do that, by providing clear information on indications, dosage, side effects, and storage conditions. It can also promote safe use across sectors and support responsible disposal."

Appropriate regulatory labeling is a cost-effective, high-impact tool that can be rapidly implemented in various countries. Well-designed labels, supported by effective enforcement and implementation, are viewed as a crucial method for influencing user behavior and contributing to national and global initiatives against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Participants of the summit emphasized the need to enhance enforcement through surveillance, inspections, and regional regulatory alignment to optimize effects across human, animal, and environmental sectors.

"Strong regulatory practices on labelling can promote appropriate use and safe disposal, helping reduce environmental pollution, one of the key drivers of AMR. The good news is that environmental labelling for medicines is gaining traction globally. It supports lifecycle transparency, empowers informed decision-making, promotes sustainable practices, and helps regulators mitigate environmental impact," said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), during her remarks.

Across discussions, participants emphasized the need for pragmatic, phased approaches that take into account national regulatory capacities and realities. Strengthened cross-sectoral collaboration under the One Health approach was identified as crucial, alongside active engagement with consumer groups and civil society to ensure that labeling requirements lead to tangible public health outcomes.

Additionally, a central takeaway from the discussions was that labeling must be practical and effective for all stakeholders. Participants emphasized the need for information that is clear, concise, and actionable, ensuring end users can easily understand and apply it. They highlighted the importance of using context-appropriate communication tools — including local languages, symbols, and pictograms — to reach diverse audiences, while ensuring labels include information on appropriate use and safe disposal.

"Every label we improve, every substandard or falsified product we remove from the market, every action we take to strengthen regulation, and every act of coordination are all essential steps toward preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobials, promoting a healthier and more resilient future for all of us – humans, animals, plants, and the environment," stressed Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Limited pack size, multilingual requirements, and gaps in disposal infrastructure were challenges discussed by the participants; however, they acknowledged that these could be addressed through public awareness initiatives, digital tools such as e-labeling and QR codes, and greater regulatory harmonization. The Regulatory Agencies Global Network Against AMR (RAGNA) secretariat also indicated that regulators are among the frontline actors in controlling AMR.

The Summit concluded with a shared understanding of practical priorities and enabling conditions to strengthen antimicrobial labeling requirements for appropriate use and disposal at the global, regional, and national levels. These insights will inform ongoing efforts to support countries in enhancing regulatory measures.

The Quadripartite Joint Secretariat will release a Summit report outlining practical actions aimed at guiding ongoing collaboration between regulatory authorities and partners to promote One Health initiatives on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).