Antibiotic Preservation Legislation

October 3, 2007 — 

In a Letter to the Editor in the September 28th edition of the New York Times, responding to a September 18th editiorial entitled Antibiotic Runoff, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY)addresses the issue of antimicrobial resistance by proposing legislation to ban the use of antibiotics in livestock for growth promotion or disease prevention.

Rep. Slaughter, citing her background as a microbiologist, refers to "study after study" highlighting the human health threat from using antibiotics as feed additives in livestock rations. She goes on to say that, "while some chicken producers and poultry purchasers have taken steps to reduce antibiotic use, the hog industry remains largely resistant to change." [Ed. Note: The Congresswoman received her BS degree in microbiology in 1951 and a Masters in Public Health in 1953. She is currently serving her 11th term representing New York's 28th Congressional district, having originally been elected to that office in 1986. Prior to her election to the U.S. House of Representatives, she served in New York state government for ten years.]

In February, 2007 Rep. Slaughter introduced the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (H.R. 962), which would "phase out antibiotics use in livestock for growth or preventative purposes unless manufacturers could prove that such uses don't endanger public health." The bill currently has 33 co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Health. There is also a companion bill in the Senate entitled The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act of 2007 (S.549) introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy. The Senate version currently has four cosponsors.

These, and similar, bills have been introduced a number of times in the past without success.