The other major change the FDA's draft guidance calls for is to bring the therapeutic uses of important antibiotics under the direct oversight of licensed veterinarians. While that move seems reasonable in many ways, similar to requiring a doctor's prescription to obtain antibiotics for humans, it may disproportionately disadvantage small farmers who don't have a regular relationship with a veterinarian.
Indeed, the Humane Society Veterinary Medicine Association finds the lack of licensed food-animal veterinarians to be a major problem with the implementation of this guidance.
Andrew Gunther, director of Animal Welfare Approved, a pro-family farm livestock certifier, also finds the lack of veterinarians in many parts of the country a serious issue for family farmers. Gunther would like to see the guidance offer more flexibility, such as allowing "qualified experts like extension agents that could be able to provide animal-health advice in addition to veterinarians."
"Since The Cornucopia Institute cares about the livelihoods of independent family farms, local, organic and sustainably managed, there is a legitimate concern that farmers should continue to have access to life-saving medicines for their animals when they need them," affirms Thistlethwaite.
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It should be noted that if the life of an animal is in danger, or in an effort to address pain and suffering, organic farmers are required, under federal law, to administer antibiotics. Milk, meat and eggs from treated animals are not allowed to be marketed as organic and any animals treated with prohibited drugs must be immediately marked/identified and subsequently removed from the operation.
Please see Cornucopia's action alert at click here for more information on how the farmers and consumers can address the FDA's guidance shortcomings.
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[1] P. Loftus, "Zoetis chief leads animal-health firm following split from Pfizer," Wall Street Journal (2013); click here
[2] K. Nachman, T. Smith, & P. Martin, "Antibiotics: Call for Real Change," Science, 10 January 2014, Vol. 343, pg. 136.
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