The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a rule change that limits the use of antibiotics in livestock. If enacted, the rule would remove feed efficiency and growth promotion from label claims for livestock use, and part of the rule could increase oversight.
Part of the push for change comes from increased antibiotic resistance to certain pathogens in humans. State Veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven says very few antibiotics are actually used for feed efficiency and growth promotion, and there’s little evidence that use in animals contributes to resistance in humans. The rule attempts to change labeling claims, and the ability of producers to purchase antibiotics over the counter. Oedekoven says he supports the idea of having more veterinarian oversight when buying antibiotics.
“I do think long-term that puts the livestock industry in position with consumers to demonstrate that they have veterinary professional oversight to the use of these antibiotics, which can be a controversial subject. Again, there’s a lot of science out there—some of it is good science, some of it is junk science and it’s difficult in some cases to wade through all of that,” Oedekoven says.
Oedekoven says some producer groups will see more benefit in veterinarian oversight than others who might not want the government as involved. He says once the rule is approved by the FDA, there is a three-year implementation period.