The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 11 published its Final Guidance 213 and proposed Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rule. Final Guidance 213 implements a plan to phase out the subtherapeutic use of medically important antibiotics in food producing animals over a three year period. The proposed VFD will ensure that all medically important antibiotics that are administered to food producing animals will be done so under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Dr. John Glisson, a veterinarian and vice president of research programs for USPOULTRY, released the following statement in response:
"The FDA is moving toward changing the way medically important antibiotics are used in food animal production. In the near future, medically important antibiotics will only be used for therapeutic purposes and only when directed and overseen by a veterinarian. The FDA has proceeded toward this goal in a thoughtful and deliberate manner in order to mitigate any risk to public health, while insuring that veterinarians will have the tools required to maintain animal health. The poultry industry has been actively involved in this process and believes that increased veterinary oversight of medically important antibiotics is a key component for the judicious use of these important compounds."
Dr. Glisson also indicated that USPOULTRY has, and will continue, to seek out and fund scientific research on alternatives to the use of medically-important antibiotics in order to continue to provide safe, nutritious and affordable poultry products.
