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AASV Leadership Visits DC

June 25, 2008 — 

Members of the AASV's Executive Committee visited Washington, DC June 16th & 17th to discuss legislative and regulatory issues of importance to swine veterinarians and the pork industry.

AASV officers Kerry Keffaber, President, Butch Baker, President-elect and Paul Ruen, Vice-president made the trip along with staff members Tom Burkgren, Executive Director and Harry Snelson, Communications Director. During the two days the group met with representatives from government agencies including DHS, USDA (APHIS, ARS & CSREES) and FDA (CVM & CFSAN). In addition, the group also met with the National Pork Producers Council and the AVMA's Government Relations Division. The officers met with Congressional staffers to discuss the animal health and welfare implications of proposed antimicrobial legislation and the positive impact of the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) which is up for renewal this year.

Topics discussed during the trip included:

  1. DHS:
    1. the future of Plum Island and the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF), and
    2. the need for adequate operational and research funding to support and enhance the work being done at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center.
  2. APHIS:
    1. Concerns regarding the importation of uncooked pork products processed in CSF positive regions of Mexico,
    2. Veterinary liability associated with the interpretation of the "30 day health rule" which was intended, in part, to allow accredited veterinarians to issue a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) based on monthly routine herd health visits, and
    3. Delays in depopulating PRV positive "transitional" swine herds in Michigan.
    4. ARS & CSREES: ongoing swine related research projects and the needs for increased funding to support future programs.
    5. FDA:
      1. CVM:
        1. Antimicrobial resistance issues
        2. Update on injectable iron availability
        3. Implementation of the Animal Feed Safety System (AFSS)
      2. CFSAN - models and strategies used to evaluate imported foods such as vegetables, fruits and seafood.
    6. NPPC: how do we improve communications and interactions between the two organizations and the need to get more swine veterinarians involved in advocacy activities at the local and federal level.
    7. AVMA:
      1. Antimicrobial legislation
      2. FARAD
      3. The future of food animal veterinary education (e.g. NVMSA & Workforce Expansion Acts)
      4. Welfare issues including euthanasia and the HSUS/AVAR association.

    For an in-depth review of the discussions, please read the Advocacy in Action column in the upcoming issue of JSHAP.