AASV Executive Committee Visits DC

May 10, 2017 — 

The AASV Executive Committee, Drs. Alex Ramirez, Scanlon Daniels, Nate Winkelman and George Charbonneau, along with AASV Executive Director Dr Tom Burkgren and Director of Communications Dr Harry Snelson met in Washington, DC May 8 & 9. The group joined the American Association of Bovine Practitioners' leadership for an annual visit hosted at the American Veterinary Medical Association Government Relations Division headquarters.

The purpose of the trip was to provide the AASV leadership an opportunity to interact with federal regulators, government agency personnel, legislators and swine researchers to discuss issues of concern to swine veterinarians. In addition, the Executive Committee heard from the bovine practitioners and representatives from the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) as well as other livestock producer groups.

This year's visit prompted discussions on issues including VFD, antimicrobial resistance, National Animal Health Laboratory funding, and electronic messaging of laboratory data with Dr. Jack Shere, US Chief Veterinary Officer. The FDA was represented by Drs Bill Flynn, Mike Murphy and Steven Solomon, Director, FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. The VFD was a main topic of discussion. The FDA representatives reported few problems with the adoption of the revised VFD rule. The agency continues to operate in an "education mode" while producers, veterinarians and distributors become accustomed to the additional antimicrobial oversight. In addition to the VFD, the group discussed the need to better understand FDA's role in protecting animal agriculture from imported ingredients that could be harboring pathogenic organisms. Other topics of discussion included carbadox, gene editing and antibiotic labeling issues associated with duration of use.

The group received an update on NBAF and foot and mouth disease vaccine development from Department of Homeland Security representatives and discussed feed-related issues with Richard Sellers, Senior VP, American Feed Industry Association.

On Tuesday, the AASV Executive Committee visited the National Institutes for Food and Agriculture headquarters to meet with NIFA and Agriculture Research Service swine researchers. The group then attended a Congressional briefing sponsored by the Animal Health Institute on antibiotic oversight and resistance before traveling to Capitol Hill to meet with legislators on behalf of NPPC.