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Future Use of Antibiotics

There are many changes coming in December 2016 in antibiotic use and availability.

Antibiotics are a hot topic right now, and their use in the agricultural industry will be changing in December 2016, said Mike Apley, veterinarian and professor of production medicine and clinical pharmacology at Kansas State University. He spoke to attendees of the 22nd Cattlemen’s College® during the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 4-7, 2015.


There are two main Guidance for the Industry (GFI) documents — 209 and 213 — of concern, he said, explaining that GIF documents are the way the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) communicates with producers, veterinarians and pharmaceutical companies.


Mike Apley

Mike Apley suggested the beef industry come up with a solution that works for the industry and propose it, as opposed to being told how to report usage in regulations.

GFI 209 has two main principles, Apley explained. The first is that the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals should be limited to those uses that are considered necessary for assuring animal health. The second is the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals should be limited to those uses that include veterinary oversight or consultations.


He highlighted the quote, “However, the Agency believes that it is not limited to making risk determinations based solely on documented scientific information, but may use other suitable information as appropriate.”


Apley said glycopeptides, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and macrolides are listed as critically important drugs. Those that are not medically important include ionophores, flavophospholipol, bacitracin and pleuromutilins such as tiamulin. The ability to use rumensin will not be affected by GFI 209.


The second principle means that producers will not be able to buy medicated anything in the feed store after December 2016. Over-the-counter (OTC) injectables will be available, but he predicted that may not last long.


Of those drugs used in food animals, he reported that tetracyclines make up 41% of the medically important category, and medically important drugs make up 61% of total usage. Ionophores make up 31% of the medically unimportant category, which is 39% of total usage. Ninety-seven percent of medically important drugs sold are OTC and available without a prescription. This is why GFI 209 came about.


GFI 213 is the road map for pharmaceutical companies to fulfill the voluntary methods in 209. Drug labels will change by December 2016.


According to the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), veterinarians will be required to fill out a prescription for feeds containing medically important drugs. Veterinarians are responsible and accountable for drug use, Apley said, even if it is delivered in the feed.


He added that when ionophores and a VFD-required medication are used concurrently, the ionophore will have to be included in the VFD, even though ionophores are not classified as medically important.


Another hot topic is antimicrobial use reporting. Apley suggested the beef industry come up with a solution that works for the industry and propose it, as opposed to being told how to report usage in regulations.


For more coverage of the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show, visit the Newsroom at www.4cattlemen.com.


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