Antibiotics in agriculture are essential for animal and human health
The Hill's Congress Blog
July 13, 2010
By Peter Silley, Professor of Applied Microbiology at the University of Bradford
Antibiotic resistance is a significant global public health challenge that has created an emotional public response among critics, public health experts, and animal health advocates. It involves debate over antibiotic use in both humans and animals, and demands improved monitoring and surveillance, more research and, ultimately, the development of a range of tools that will help reduce reliance on antibiotics. This week’s Energy & Commerce Committee hearing, “Antibiotic Resistance and the Use of Antibiotics in Animal Agriculture,” will further examine how these products are used in agriculture and their impact on human health. For the full article, click here.
AHI's Statement on FDA Guidance on Judicious Use of Antimicrobials
June 28, 2010
The Food and Drug Administration has published guidance on the Judicious Use of Medically Important Antimicrobials in Food Producing Animals. Click here to see AHI’s statement on this guidance.
AHI Praises FDA Action Against Illegal Compounding
April 21, 2010
The Animal Health Institute praised action taken by the Food and Drug Administration to protect animal health and stop the illegal manufacture and sale of unapproved animal drugs. The FDA is seeking a permanent injunction in a lawsuit filed in federal court against a company involved in the interstate sale of unapproved animal drugs under the guise of pharmacy compounding. Click here for the full press release.
Animal Antibiotics
February 11, 2010
CBS "Evening News" aired a two-part story on antibiotic used in livestock and poultry production. Unfortunately, CBS News failed to accurately portray the use of antibiotics to keep food animals healthy.The stories failed to inform consumers about the Food and Drug Administration’s stringent approval process for antibiotics used in animals – one that requires more tests for antibiotics used in food animals than for those used in humans. The approval process contains specific provisions to ensure the use of the product does not increase the burden of antibiotic resistance in humans. It mandates that animJanals cannot go to market until the medicine has cleared the animal’s system, and additional programs are in place to test the meat to guard against harmful residues. For more information, please click here.
Farmers, Not Bureaucrats, Know Best
By Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa)
January 26, 2010
The Hill's Congress Blog published an op-ed by Rep. Steve King that clears up any misconceptions about production agriculture and the use of antibiotics used to keep farm animals healthy. For the full article, please click here.
H1N1 Vaccine for Swine
December 11, 2009
Influenza viruses are among the 60 percent of human diseases that are zoonotic – those that move between people and animals. The USDA has just provided conditional approval for a vaccine to protect swine from the H1N1 virus currently circulating in humans. Please see the attached link for USDA’s announcement of this development and the attached statement from the Animal Health Institute.
