Posted December 13, 2013
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently
issued two major proposals in its effort to curb “injudicious” use of
antibiotics in agriculture, according to a Politico article available here.
Antibiotics have been used in meat production as a
growth-promoter and to keep disease from spreading among concentrated animal
feeding operations. Health advocates,
however, argue that stricter limits are needed due to a growing problem of
antibiotic-resistant infections – “which now kill 23,000 Americans and rack up
millions in added health care costs each year.”
On Wednesday, FDA released a Guidance,
which “asks veterinary drug companies to remove growth-promotion claims from
antibiotics that are important for human medicine.” The drug companies have 90 days to notify FDA
if they will voluntarily follow the guidance.
FDA also released a proposed
rule, “which requires antibiotics currently sold over the counter in large
quantities that can be added to feed and water” to require a prescription from
a veterinarian.”
Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods and
veterinary medicine at FDA, said that after the 90-day period, the agency
intends to publicly release an update of the percentage of companies which have
agreed to follow the guidance.
Animal pharmaceutical companies support the
changes. Clinton Lewis, Jr. executive
vice president and president of U.S. operations for Zoetis, said the company is
“very appreciative of [FDA’s] open and collaborative approach.”
The Animal Health Institute said it supported the
policy and pledged to “continue to work with FDA on its implementation,”
according to an Agri-Pulse article available here.
Representatives from the National Pork Producers
Council (NPPC) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) said they
had worked with FDA on the guidelines and were pleased with the results.
For more information on antibiotic use in agriculture
and antibiotic resistance, a recent post from this blog is available here
and an article from the Congressional Research Service is available here.
