News

Veterinary Feed Directive final rule

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released its Veterinary Feed Directive final rule, which provides oversight of important antibiotics used in feed for food animals.

Dr. Ron DeHaven, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) CEO says AVMA fully supports the provision and the flexibility and consistency it provides.

“It provides greater veterinary oversight, something short of what we have traditionally thought of as our veterinary, client, patient relationship,” said DeHaven. “But at the same time making sure that a veterinarian is involved in the decision of when to use antibiotics, how much for how long and making sure it’s the right one.”

DeHaven says while the new rule will be somewhat inconvenient for both livestock producers and veterinarians, in the long term, it will ensure that antibiotics will be available in the future.  Producers will need a special kind of prescription to have antibiotics added to a ration and vets will be required to fill out the directive.

Audio: Dr. Ron DeHaven, CEO, American Veterinary Medical Association