The American Meat Institute (AMI) has issued a statement in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s publication of the final Guidance 213 and proposed Veterinary Feed Directive rule implementing the policy of extending veterinary oversight and eliminating the subtherapeutic (routine) use of medically important antibiotics in animal agriculture.
AMI Chief Scientist Betsy Booren says: “AMI welcomes today’s (Wednesday’s) publication of the Food and Drug Administration’s final Guidance 213 and proposed Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rule, which establishes a three-year timeframe for phasing out growth promotion uses of antibiotics important in human medicine and phasing in veterinary oversight of these products.
“AMI strongly supports the prudent and judicious use of antibiotics in food animal production under the care of a veterinarian, as defined by the American Veterinary Medical Association, which is consistent with protecting both animal and public health, ensuring the ability to medically treat animals, and maintaining the highest standard of animal welfare practices, and we believe Guidance 213 adheres to these principles.
“AMI is committed to working with the FDA over the next three years as this guidance is implemented and beyond with research for therapeutic options and further understanding how resistance is developed and transmitted among humans, animals, and other living organisms. AMI will also work with groups throughout the industry and other allied stakeholders to achieve these objectives.”
