September 18, 2014
A variety of agricultural groups responded to the news that President Obama had signed an Executive Order on Sept. 18, directing key federal departments and agencies to take action to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The Obama administration also released its National Strategy on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. In addition, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is releasing a related report on Combating Antibiotic Resistance.
Read more about the PCAST Report and Executive Order here.
National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Howard Hill issued a statement in the wake of the announcement. Hill said, “In its executive order on combating antibiotic resistant bacteria, the White House acknowledged something that the National Pork Producers Council has been saying for years: More epidemiological research is needed to understand the key drivers of increased antibiotic resistance.
“America’s pork producers, who abide by a strict antimicrobial stewardship program outlined in the industry’s Pork Quality Assurance Plus