Global regulatory leaders underscored the vital role of antimicrobial labelling in addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during the Second Global Regulatory Authorities Summit on AMR, held from January 14 to 15, 2026. The summit, organized by the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR, gathered over 200 participants from various national and regional regulatory authorities, as well as international organizations and technical partners.
Leaders concluded that implementing clear, practical, and enforceable labelling requirements can lead to substantial public health benefits across the human, animal, and environmental sectors. This strategy aligns with a One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of these domains.
Regulatory Insights and Public Health Implications
Dr. Thanawat Tiensin, Assistant Director-General and Chief Veterinarian of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), emphasized the need for enhanced regulatory practices within agri-food systems. He stated, “Strengthening the regulatory practices for medicines in general, and antimicrobials in particular, is one area that we need to focus on, and indeed, proper regulations of antimicrobial medicines throughout their life cycle require action across various sectors. The agri-food system is everyone’s business, and it is a benefit for all of us.”
In his opening remarks, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), highlighted the critical role of regulators. “As regulators, you play a vital role in translating the political commitments countries have made into real-world practice. Labelling is a powerful tool to do that, by providing clear information on indications, dosage, side effects, and storage conditions,” he noted. This clarity can promote safe use and responsible disposal practices across various sectors.
Participants recognized that appropriate regulatory labelling represents a low-cost, high-impact strategy that can be rapidly adopted in many countries. Effective labels, supported by robust implementation and enforcement, serve as a crucial mechanism to influence user behavior and achieve both national and global objectives in the fight against AMR.
Strengthening Enforcement and Collaboration
Summit discussions emphasized the necessity of reinforcing enforcement through enhanced surveillance, inspection, and regional regulatory harmonization. Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), remarked on the importance of such measures, stating, “Strong regulatory practices on labelling can promote appropriate use and safe disposal, helping reduce environmental pollution, one of the key drivers of AMR.”
The summit participants advocated for pragmatic and phased approaches tailored to national regulatory capacities and realities. Strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration under the One Health framework was deemed essential, along with engaging consumer groups and civil society to translate labelling requirements into tangible public health outcomes.
A significant takeaway from the summit was the need for labelling to be practical and effective for all stakeholders. Participants stressed the importance of providing clear, concise, and actionable information, ensuring that end users can easily comprehend and apply it. They highlighted the use of context-appropriate communication tools, including local languages, symbols, and pictograms, to reach diverse audiences effectively.
Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), emphasized the collective responsibility in these efforts. She stated, “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 essential steps toward preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobials and promoting a healthier, more resilient future for all of us – humans, animals, plants, and the environment.”
Participants also addressed challenges such as limited pack sizes, multilingual requirements, and gaps in disposal infrastructure. They acknowledged that these obstacles could be mitigated through public awareness initiatives and the use of digital tools like e-labelling and QR codes, as well as enhancing regulatory harmonization.
The Regulatory Agencies Global Network Against AMR (RAGNA) highlighted that regulators are on the frontline in controlling AMR. The summit concluded with a shared understanding of practical priorities and enabling conditions necessary to strengthen antimicrobial labelling requirements for appropriate use and disposal at global, regional, and national levels.
The Quadripartite Joint Secretariat plans to publish a summit report detailing actionable steps to guide ongoing collaboration among regulatory authorities and partners to advance One Health action against AMR.
