FDA challenges use of antibiotics in healthy food animals

Nature | Meredith Wadman | June 28, 2010

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed on Monday that the animal agriculture industry drop its use of medically important antibiotics in feed animals such as cattle.

The draft proposal, which is open for public comment for 60 days, calls the widespread use of the drugs in healthy animals to boost growth and production “injudicious”. It notes that 40 years' worth of scientific studies have largely suggested that the practice promotes bacterial resistance to drugs that are much needed to treat both animals and people.

The agency further proposes that veterinarians should be involved in all decisions on the use of medically important antibiotics, like pencillins and tetracyclines, in feed animals. At present, many antibiotics are available to the industry over-the-counter, without a veterinarian’s involvement.

The proposal, called a “guidance” when finalized, is not binding on the industry, but represents what the FDA calls its “current thinking”. However, in a conference call with reporters today, FDA's deputy commissioner, Joshua Sharfstein, said that the agency could move to issue binding regulations if it judges that to be necessary.

"I am not ruling out anything that we could do to accomplish these important public health goals," Sharfstein said.

To hear a replay of the conference call, callers in the United States and Canada can dial 1-800-873-2054. International callers can dial 1-203-369-4006.

For FDA questions and answers on the new guidance, see here.

Watch this space for reaction from industry groups like the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

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