Thursday, March 27, 2014

End coming to antibiotics for growth


Twenty-five of 26 drug companies have told the United States Food and Drug Administration that they will stop selling antibiotics as growth promotants for livestock and poultry.

Although Canadian officials have said nothing, it’s almost certain the same thing will happen here simply to preserve the U.S. market for Canadian livestock and meat.

The companies are going to either withdraw the drugs completely from the farm markets or make them available only under a veterinarian’s prescription.

The Food and Drug Administration wants to limit use of antibiotics in food animals to curb the potential for antimicrobial resistance in humans.

The antibiotics will be allowed for farm use to treat bacterial infections and diseases.

The 25 companies account for 99.95 percent of sales.

They are:
  • ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc.
  • Agri Laboratories, Ltd.
  • Bayer Healthcare LLC, Animal Health Division
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
  • Contemporary Products, Inc.
  • Cross Vetpharm Group Ltd.
  • Elanco Animal Health, A Division of Eli Lilly & Co.
  • First Priority, Inc.
  • G.C. Hanford Manufacturing Co.
  • Huvepharma AD
  • Intervet, Inc.
  • Med-Pharmex, Inc.
  • Merial Ltd.
  • Micro Beef Technologies LTD
  • Novartis Animal Health US, Inc.
  • Pennfield Oil Co.
  • Phibro Animal Health Corp.
  • Quo Vademus, LLC
  • Ridley USA Inc.
  • Sparhawk Laboratories, Inc.
  • Strategic Veterinary Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Veterinary Services, Inc.
  • Vetoquinol N.-A., Inc.
  • Virbac AH, Inc.
  • Zoetis Inc.