On May 14, 2015, Farm Foundation, a
nonprofit organization that attempts to promote dialogue between the various
farm sectors, conducted the first of a series of forums designed to educate
livestock producers, veterinarians, and government regulators regarding the phasing-out
of antimicrobial-drug use in food producing animals.
According to the United States Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), the growing resistance to antimicrobial-drugs
represents a “global threat.” Significantly, FDA states that “[a]ntimicrobial use in animals can contribute
to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria that may be
transferred to humans, thereby reducing the effectiveness of antimicrobial
drugs for treating human disease.”
To combat the dangers associated with antimicrobial-drug
use in animals, FDA has issued a series of guidelines on the judicious use
and the phasing out of these drugs.
Though FDA’s guidelines are voluntary, its
recommendations are often difficult for interested livestock producers and
veterinarians to fully understand. Through
its forum series, Farm Foundation seeks to provide these individuals with the
tools necessary to achieve the recommended FDA guidelines. Furthermore, Farm Foundations hopes to help
government regulators better understand the challenges producers and
veterinarians face when attempting to implement the suggested guidelines.
Written by M. Sean High - Staff Attorney
May 29, 2015
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