---
title: "Critically important antibiotics (antibiotiques d'importance critique) · Treats"
description: "Critically important antibiotics are substances, mainly third and fourth-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, whose veterinary use France restricts because they are essential in human medicine (article L5144-1-1 of the French Public Health Code)."
url: https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/antibiotiques-critiques/
lang: en-GB
updated: 2026-11-07
---

[Glossary](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/)

# Critically important antibioticsantibiotiques d'importance critique

Critically important antibiotics are substances, mainly third and fourth-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, whose veterinary use France restricts because they are essential in human medicine (article L5144-1-1 of the French Public Health Code).

Since 1 April 2016, they may not be used preventively, only for treatment or metaphylaxis, and only after a clinical examination, identification of the strain and a susceptibility test, with records kept for 5 years.

They should not be confused with the EU list of antimicrobials **reserved for human use** (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1255), banned in all animals since 9 February 2023.

## Sources

* [Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1255 (EUR-Lex)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg%5Fimpl/2022/1255/oj)

 Checked on 7 November 2026 · by [Amir Davies](https://www.treats.vet/en/about/amir-davies/)

## See also

* [CalypsoVet](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/calypsovet/) CalypsoVet is the French platform through which vets report antimicrobial prescriptions, supplies and administrations, by the end of the month following each supply.
* [Cascade](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/cascade/) The cascade is the derogation that lets a vet, exceptionally and on their own responsibility, prescribe a medicine outside its marketing authorisation when no authorised product exists for the species and condition (articles 112 to 114 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6).
* [Veterinary prescription](https://www.treats.vet/en/glossary/ordonnance-veterinaire/) A French veterinary prescription is the document a vet issues, after a clinical examination or proper assessment of the animal, for a veterinary medicine or a human medicine given to animals (articles 4 and 105 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6).