Animal Health Industry supports the FDA’s proposals on responsible use of antibiotics in food-producing animals

Brussels, Belgium, 12 December 2013 –The International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH) is supportive of the US’s Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announcement this week of its plan to ensure the responsible use of antibiotics in food-producing animals. Antibiotics are a vital tool in any veterinarian’s toolbox, and are to be used responsibly whenever they are employed. The FDA’s plan establishes a three year timeframe to phase out growth promotion use of medically important antibiotics, and phases in veterinary oversight of these medically important antibiotics for therapeutic and targeted use. “The responsible use of antibiotics, including the principle ‘as much as necessary, as little as possible’, and under the supervision of a veterinarian, needs to be further encouraged”, says IFAH’s acting Executive Director, Mike McGowan. “Animal health is inextricably linked to human health, nutrition and well-being, so ensuring that animals get the therapy they need, when they need it, is vital for all concerned”, he added.

For further information, please contact the Animal Health Institute (AHI) on http://www.ahi.org/about/contact-us/

For further press information please contact

Luke Hopkins, IFAH press office Kim Hardie, IFAH Communications Director

Tel.: +44 1903 277817 Tel.: +32 2 543 75 75

E-mail: lhopkins@thisispegasus.co.uk E-mail: k.hardie@ifahsec.org