FDA seeks input on benefits of carbadox
NPPC urges agency to develop a new residue test for carbadox rather than pull it from the market.
January 14, 2022
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week announced it will hold a virtual public hearing March 10 on the safety of carbadox, an animal health product used in hog feed to control bacterial diseases such as salmonella and swine dysentery. The FDA is seeking input on the benefits of carbadox, as well as scientific data and information on its safety and possible carcinogenic residues of it in swine tissue.
There are three approved New Animal Drug Applications for animal drug products containing carbadox, all held by Phibro Animal Health:
Mecadox Premix 10 (NADA 041-061); contains carbadox alone
Banminth/Mecadox (NADA 092-955); contains carbadox plus pyrantel tartrate
Mecadox/Terramycin (NADA 141-211); contains carbadox plus oxytetracycline
The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine says it reviewed data available at the time it approved the 1998 supplemental applications for carbadox and made several conclusions about carbadox tissue residues based on that information. However, subsequent human food safety information demonstrates that carcinogenic carbadox residues persist longer than previously known. Because there is no established relationship between the noncarcinogenic residue quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (QCA) measured by the approved method and the residue of carcinogenic concern, they concluded that the approved method measuring the concentration of QCA in animal tissue does not allow CVM to conclusively determine whether the residue of carcinogenic concern remains in the tissue.
The National Pork Producers Council in September 2020 submitted comments to FDA urging the agency to develop a new residue test for carbadox rather than pull it from the market, noting that the animal drug "has been effectively used by most pork producers for decades to support animal health." Producers adhere to FDA's 42-day withdrawal period for carbadox, says NPPC, which also pointed out that since the drug mainly is used in nursery pigs, the withdrawal period is likely 60 days or more.
To register for the hearing by the March 9 deadline, click here.
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