Preparing for Prescription-Only Antibiotics in Livestock Industry: Important Changes Ahead

June 2, 2023 — 

While another month has come and gone for the 2023 production year, if you haven't already heard, June will hold some significant changes for the livestock industry. On June 11, the FDA's Guidance for Industry (GFI) #263 will take effect, bringing 91 over-the-counter antimicrobial products under prescription oversight.

When it comes to livestock antibiotics, many products that have typically been used over-the-counter will now need a veterinary prescription.

"Just as physicians have started to try and educate people to not utilize antibiotics in those cases, we're really trying to have the same conversation with the livestock industry," says Mike Lormore, DVM, head of technical services over pork and cattle for Zoetis.

While the sales of antimicrobial injectables in 2021 declined by 11% from 2016, Lormore says the FDA's guidance is a result of a long conversation around improving the quality of and control systems around antimicrobial use in food production.

The guidance applies to all food animals, including cattle, hogs, ruminants (goats/sheep) and poultry. In addition, it also applies to animals not intended for food, such as horses, pet rabbits and backyard chickens.

Read the full story at Farm Journal's Pork

[Source: Farm Journal's Pork 31 May 2023, by Paige Carlson]