FDA on Animal Antibiotics: "Promote Health, Not Growth"

Over the past 50 years, antimicrobial drugs have been commonly used in human and veterinary medicine, reaping benefits to human and animal health alike. In recent years however, the use of these drugs in animal agriculture in particular, has gained national attention due to the threat of bacterial resistance to certain antibiotics.

Faegre Baker Daniels attorney Scott Halbur, and Bradley McKinney of FaegreBD Consulting, authored an article which appeared in the January 2014 edition of Pork Magazine explaining new guidance given by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the use of antimicrobial drugs in animal agriculture. FDA released Guidance for Industry #213 (GFI #213) as well as a Proposed Rule that would amend Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) guidelines. Halbur and McKinney explore both guidelines in their article, as well as steps livestock producers can take in light of the new guidance.