The European Parliament has unanimously approved limits on the use of antibiotics in farm animals produced for food.

The law, which awaits final approval, also requires that imported foods meet EU standards.

The new regulations, which go into force in 2022, limit the use of antimicrobials as a preventive measure — in the absence of clinical signs of infection — to single animals. A veterinarian must approve and justify the use of antibiotics in cases where there is a high risk of infection.

As of June 2018, the EU banned the use of medicated feed.