The United States Food and Drug Administration reports that sales of antimicrobials for farm use to control bacteria increased by six per cent last year.
It’s a reversal of the downward trend that began in 2017when the FDA announced restrictions on their use.
The FDA noted in its report that implementation of specific guidelines brought all 292 applications for medically important microbials intended for use in feed and water for food-producing animals under veterinary oversight. The data represent about 96 per cent of all antimicrobials for farm use.
The FDA plans to continue to establish targeted durations of use for the 95 approved animal drug applications that currently do not have defined periods for how long such antimicrobials should be used in food-producing animals.
The 2017 FDA ruling also banned the use of antimicrobials specifically to encourage weight gain in animals. Critics have said that rule is widely circumvented by obtaining veterinary prescriptions aimed at curbing harmful bacteria.
