Reuters: Market News: UPDATE 1-US seeks voluntary antibiotic limits in livestock

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UPDATE 1-US seeks voluntary antibiotic limits in livestock Apr 11th 2012, 17:53 Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:53pm EDT By Anna Yukhananov WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators on W ednesday asked food producers to voluntarily stop using antibiotics in livestock to promote growth, as part of an effort to prevent the rise of drug-resistant "superbugs." The FDA said antibiotics should only be used under the supervision of a veterinarian to prevent or treat illnesses in animals used for food production. It asked companies to start phasing out the use of antibiotics for non-medical purposes, and said that process could take three years. The move to limit antibiotics could affect large meat producers like Tyson Foods Inc, Cargill Inc and Hormel Foods Corp. Chickens, for example, are usually raised in large numbers indoors, and anbiotics are often used in their feed. Environmental advocacy groups have long argued that using common antibiotics like tetracyclines and penicillin in animal feed has contributed to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, known as "superbugs." Some groups said the FDA should make limits on antibiotics mandatory, not voluntary. Scientists say overuse of antibiotics -- whether in people or animals -- can lead to bacterial resistance as resistant strains become dominant. Perhaps the most publicized antibiotic-resistant bacteria are the methicillin-resistant staphylococcus bugs known as MRSA. "The new strategy will ensure farmers and veterinarians can care for animals while ensuring the medicines people need remain safe and effective," FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said in a statement. Michael Taylor, deputy FDA commissioner for foods, said veterinary oversight should ensure that antibiotics are used properly and only when necessary, limiting resistance. Food producers have not had to consult veterinarians, since common antibiotics have long been available without a prescription. A federal judge last month ordered the FDA to start proceedings to withdraw approval for the non-therapeutic use of common antibiotics in animal feed, based on a lawsuit filed by environmental groups. Wednesday's announcement was based on draft rules for antibiotics that the FDA issued in May 2010, and was unrelated to the court ruling, the agency said. The court's decision would have made the withdrawal mandatory, and some groups criticized the FDA for trusting companies to stop overusing antibiotics on their own. "This is not an issue where trust should be the measure," said Richard Wood, chair of a coalition of environmental and other groups called Keep Antibiotics Working that pushes for measures to combat antibiotic resistance. "This is an issue where the measure is whether or not the FDA has fulfilled its authority of protecting public health." Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

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