By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Each year brings new changes and new regulations. And next year’s changes could include more veterinary oversight for medically-important antibiotics used in food animals.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is continuing to phase in a law that requires a prescription for any antibiotic used in animals raised for human consumption, as well as for all companion animals.
A prescription is already required for most antibiotics administered to livestock through the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), which was implemented in January 2017.
The VFD requires a valid veterinarian-client-patient-relationship for farmers and ranchers to get prescriptions for the use of feed-grade and water-soluble antibiotics.
A limited number of other dosage forms of medically-important antimicrobials, such as injectables, are currently marketed as over-the- counter products for both food-producing and companion animals.
These new guidelines will further extend the need for veterinarian oversight, noted Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities.
The remaining three categories of injectable antibiotics that are available over-the-counter would be added to the list of medically-important antimicrobials that require a veterinarian’s prescription.
“Tylosin, penicillin and tetracyclines are among the more popular antibiotics still available over-the- counter as injectables, but that will change,” Tomascik said. “A relationship with your veterinarian will be even more important moving forward with these expected changes.”
The concern, Tomascik noted, is that antibiotic-resistant bacteria could develop more quickly from the widespread use of antibiotics that are medically important to humans.
“That would negatively impact both humans and animals,” Tomascik said. “But it’s important to note that antibiotics are not going away. Farmers and ranchers will have access to the same products, but their veterinarian will need to be involved to help make the appropriate decision. Ranchers won’t be able to go into the feed store and buy the products they need over-the-counter. It will take a little more planning and communication with their veterinarian.”
The increased oversight also applies to companion animals.
FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine’s goal is reduce the need for antibiotics, and a cooperative effort between veterinarians and farmers can help make that a reality in many cases.
In fact, FDA studies show antibiotic use in animal agriculture has declined in recent years.
“Judicious use of antibiotics in agriculture is important,” Tomascik said. “Working together, farmers, ranchers, veterinarians and consumers can all feel confident that both animal health and human health will keep in good standing.”
This is part of the FDA’s five-year plan for Supporting Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Settings.
When the rule is fully implemented, all dosage forms of all approved medically-important antimicrobials for all animal species can only be administered under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian and only when necessary for the treatment, control or prevention of specific diseases.
FDA is proposing a two-year implementation period that would begin after the agency considers comments on the draft guidance and issues the final guidance, but compliance is expected to begin as soon as 2020.
Comments on the draft guidance will be accepted through Dec. 24.
Click here to submit comments.
FDA also plans to engage with affected stakeholders and state partners at public events, such as meetings and conferences, to hear feedback and answer questions about the changes proposed in the draft guidance document.
More Big Government!!! Period!!! The little guy and gal farmers are the Losers, period!!! Yes, more money for vets and others, but less and less for the little guy and gal, who have been feeding the world and who have all the investment in the first place!
I am not in the cattle industry, but it makes sense to me that use of antibiotics in food animals should have some kind of oversight. However, being a volunteer at an animal shelter with cats and dogs coming in sick often, the need to make a vet visit every time is going to strain budgets, and put off vet visits because of little staffing. The smaller shelters, who do not have an in-house vet will not be able to treat sick animals if this pertains to sheltered animals. In my opinion, dogs and cats will die because of these constraints.
What about rural areas without access to large animal vets? Definetly not feasible for small business. One more reason to go out of production. Another big agi win. So sad.
Another government assumption that the generational agriculture people don’t know what they are doing, This on top of removing country of origin labels on foreign foods in order to force unregulated inferior products on us, right along with Farm Bureau spin. What’s new?
Yes this means more government overreach. Will have to take animals to the vet to get a prescription for antibiotics which will cost hundreds of dollars that we can afford. For small ranchers and farmers hundreds of dollars for vet visits is not feasible. Maybe the government and the Farm Bureau wants to run small ranchers and Farmers out of business who knows. Just another way to screw the little man.
I agree wholeheartedly with the other commentators so far. If I have a cow with footrot in the lot, I won’t be able to go to my local feed store to get a bottle of LA-200 so I can give her a shot that from my experience would cure the problem with one dose; instead, I’ll have to load her in a trailer and drive the forty-mile round-trip to a vet to have him treat her, resulting in much greater expense not to mention time and effort on my part and added stress on the cow. Big Ag and their minions in congress and the state legislatures won’t be content until they have driven every small producer out of business, used eminent domain to seize our farms at a pittance, and forced us into servitude on their plantations. It’s getting to where I don’t recognize this country anymore.
Perhaps a relationship with your vet would save a lot of trouble. Mine just gave me what I needed. No need to bring the cattle in. Trust goes a long way.