On the day of this forum, the FDA released its final rule for the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). The rule, slated to be fully implemented by December 2016, changes how antibiotics also important to human medicine may be used in animal production.
"Once these changes are fully implemented, it will be illegal to use these medically important antibiotics for production purposes, period," said Michael R. Taylor, FDA deputy commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine.
The FDA rule would require veterinarian prescriptions for antibiotics deemed important to human use. "Instead of having unrestricted over-the-counter access, animal producers will need to obtain authorization from a licensed veterinarian to use these medications for therapeutic uses – for prevention, control or treatment of a specifically identified disease," said Taylor.
Ron DeHaven, chief executive of the Schaumburg, Ill.,-based American Veterinary Medical Assoc. (AVMA), pointed to a specific provision in the VFD final rule that will help veterinarians and livestock producers follow FDA guidelines. It requires veterinarians to follow state laws relating to the vet-client-patient relationship (VCPR), allowing for harmony between state and federal guidelines.
DeHaven said the AVMA is working with state veterinary medical associations to make sure state laws match up with the forthcoming federal rule. "When state VCPRs complement federal regulations, everyone wins; it strengthens and supports the goals of the program to ensure healthy animals, a safe food supply and the reduction of antibiotic resistance," he said.
The American Feed Industry Assoc. (AFIA), whose members make more than 75 percent of commercial feed in the United States, also participated in the White House Forum. Richard Sellers, senior vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs, said the VFD is good for the feed industry.
"The final rule shows many improvements for the industry that will make the process more effective and timely," he said.
While the AFIA is still reviewing the 100-pages-plus rule, Sellers did indicate one concern related to recordkeeping for feed manufacturers. The FDA rule requires electronic records be maintained for two years past manufacture.
"That’s a concern, as we believed we had convinced FDA the two-year requirement should be reduced to one year to agree with the one-year recordkeeping requirement that appears in the Current Good Manufacturing Practices regulations," said Sellers.