Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) have introduced H.R. 820, the “Delivering Antimicrobial Transparency in Animals Act of 2013 (DATA Act).” This legislation would require drug manufacturers to provide information to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on how their drugs are used by determining (or estimating) the amounts used in each segment of food-producing animals for which they are approved. The DATA Act would require large-scale producers of poultry, swine and beef to submit data to FDA detailing the type and amount of antibiotics and other antimicrobials fed in their production systems. When fed under a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), more detailed information must be provided to FDA, including the quantities, dosages and duration of time the medicated feeds were provided to the animals. Congressman Waxman said, “The widespread use of antibiotics in animals is a vital public health issue. We need to learn more about how these drugs are being used. With this information, scientists will be able to better pinpoint the relationship between the routine use of antibiotics in animals and the development of dangerous, resistant bugs that can harm humans. This knowledge will inform scientists and Congress and start us down the path to sensible regulation.” Congressman Waxman will pursue the DATA Act during Congress’ reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) this year.
