FDA Bans Certain Uses Of Antibiotics In Food-Producing Animals

In a bid to protect an important class of antibiotics for treating humans and reduce the development of drug resistance, the US Food and Drug Administration has banned certain uses of cephalosporins in food-producing animals. The federal agency announced on Wednesday that the prohibition order comes into effect on 5 April. The ban is intended to stop the use of "extra label" or unapproved use, of cephalosporins in what the FDA describes as the "so-called major species of food-producing animals" such as cattle, pigs (swine), chickens and turkeys. Unlike the ban that was introduced and then revoked in 2008, the new ban does allow some exceptions to the extralabel use of cephalosporins in food-producing animals. These exceptions, which the FDA says "protect public health while considering animal health needs", are: * The ban does not limit the use of an older drug, cephapirin, which the agency says is not thought to contribute significantly to the development of antibiotic resistance. * Veterinarians will be allowed to administer or prescribe cephalosporins for "limited extra-label use" in the major food- producing animals, as long as they adhere to the "dose, frequency, duration, and route of administration" specified on the label. * They will also be allowed to administer or prescribe cephalosporins for "extralabel uses" in minor species of food-producing animals such as ducks or rabbits...more