Latest News From Veterinary Regulations

FDA Unveils Draft Guidance on Antibiotic Duration Of Use in the Feed of Food Animals
FDA Unveils Draft Guidance on Antibiotic Duration Of Use in the Feed of Food Animals

The FDA guidance aims to promote more judicious use of medically important antibiotics in livestock and poultry.

Over-The-Counter Livestock Antibiotics Officially a Thing of the Past
Over-The-Counter Livestock Antibiotics Officially a Thing of the Past

Starting on June 11, over-the-counter livestock antibiotics will no longer be available through traditional retail channels.

Over-the-Counter Antibiotics: What You Need to Know Before June 11
Over-the-Counter Antibiotics: What You Need to Know Before June 11

On June 11, FDA’s Guidance for Industry #263 brings 91 over-the-counter antimicrobial products from OTC to prescription oversight. Three experts weigh in on why you need to prepare for this change now.

OTC Livestock Antibiotics Will Require Prescription June 11
OTC Livestock Antibiotics Will Require Prescription June 11

Beginning June 11, 2023, over-the-counter livestock antibiotics will require a veterinary prescription. Producers are encouraged to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship now.

FDA to Resume Enforcement of all Federal VCPR Requirements for Veterinary Telemedicine
FDA to Resume Enforcement of all Federal VCPR Requirements for Veterinary Telemedicine

The effective date of the decision is Feb. 21, which means that the FDA will again hold veterinarians to the federal requirements for the veterinarian-client-patient relationship beginning on that date

Over-the-Counter Antibiotics Are Going Away: 5 Tips to Prepare Your Farm
Over-the-Counter Antibiotics Are Going Away: 5 Tips to Prepare Your Farm

On June 11, 2023, over-the-counter antibiotics will no longer be available through traditional retail channels. Instead, these antibiotics will now require a prescription from a licensed veterinarian.

Cattle Veterinarians Have New Vaccination Guidelines
Cattle Veterinarians Have New Vaccination Guidelines

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) recently released a first-of-its-kind document on cattle vaccine guidelines.

Angus VNR: Cattle Sense

Working with livestock isn't a skill we're born with; it’s learned through discipline and practice. That's from cattle consultant Kip Lukasiewicz, sharing practical ways to rethink cattle handling.

 Zoonotic Diseases Contribute To Collaboration Between DVMs, MDs
Zoonotic Diseases Contribute To Collaboration Between DVMs, MDs

Six out of 10 infectious diseases in people today are zoonotic based, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a bovine veterinarian, what can you do to address the problem? 

Changes to the use conditions of these products will be based on science and available evidence, and the FDA believes this RFA will help generate such information.
FDA Offers Funds for Duration of Use Studies

Research needed to help define duration of use for certain medically important antimicrobial drugs for food animals.

FDA’s 2018 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals showed domestic sales and distribution increased 9% between 2017 and 2018.
Antibiotic Rules Continue to Evolve

Market forces and regulatory actions will drive emphasis on disease prevention and antibiotic stewardship.

Most livestock antibiotics now sold over the counter will require a veterinarian's prescription in the near future.
Prepare for More Antibiotic Rules

Market forces and regulatory actions will drive emphasis on disease prevention and antibiotic stewardship.

The Animal Health Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate combines the knowledge of animal science and veterinary medicine with skills needed to navigate governmental processes and regulations throughout the product lifecycle.
K-State Offers Regulatory Affairs Certificate  

Kansas State University's Olathe campus is now offering a premier graduate certificate designed for the regulatory affairs sector of the animal health industry.

Cattle producers using ECTR to report ownership changes and out-of-state movement could save up to 39 percent compared to using traditional livestock inspections.
Washington Streamlines Cattle Transaction Reporting

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is now offering Washington ranchers a quicker, more cost-effective way to report cattle sales and out-of-state movement of their cattle.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive  component of cannabis plants
FDA Cracks Down on Unapproved CBD Products

Over the past few years, cannabidiol (CBD) has become wildly popular as a dietary supplement and “natural” treatment for a laundry list of health conditions in humans and animals.

The new draft guidance is titled “Compounding Animal Drugs from Bulk Drug Substances.”
FDA Hosts Webinar on Animal Drug Compounding

On November 21, 2019, at 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST, the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine will hold a public webinar about the agency’s newly-released draft Guidance for Industry #256.

FDA previously published a draft guidance (Draft GFI #230) on this issue in 2015, but withdrew the draft based on stakeholder comments, intending release a revised draft at a later date.
FDA Revises Draft GFI on Compounding Animal Drugs

Animal drug compounding can provide tailored treatments for patients or conditions not easily addressed with FDA-approved drugs, but the practice also entails some risks.

GVL updated the workflows for digital certificates including CVIs and VFDs.
GVL Redesigns its Veterinary Software Platform

Updates to navigation and functionality affect all GVL users.

The program hosts at least 30 different committee and subcommittee meetings with hundreds of experts speaking throughout the seven-day annual event.
123rd U.S. Animal Health Association Meeting Kicks Off

The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA), the nation's animal health forum for over a century, is holding its 123rd annual meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, from Oct. 24-30. I

Some labels don’t have specified duration of use and FDA is working to collect more information for science-based duration-of-use guidelines.
Five Animal Health Topics to Think About

Behind the scenes, animal health officials are working on behalf of producers and the livestock industry.

The site includes graphic illustrations showing trends associated with the five-year plan.
FDA Announces Veterinary AMR Performance Measures on FDA-TRACK

Performance measures track the progress of the Center of Veterinary Medicine’s (CVM) Five-Year Plan for Supporting Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Settings.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week released draft Guidance for Industry, entitled “Eligibility Criteria for Expanded Conditional Approval of New Animal Drugs.”
FDA Issues Draft GFI on Conditional Drug Approvals

Expanded conditional approval has the potential to incentivize drug development and provide veterinarians with legally marketed new animal drugs.

The new guidance would include dosage forms including injectable or intra-mammary antibiotic products now available over the counter for use in beef and dairy cattle.
FDA Releases Draft GFI to End OTC Sales of Most Animal Antibiotics

Proposal would bring remaining approved over-the-counter medically important antimicrobial drugs used for animals under veterinary oversight.

The comment period will now close on January 6, 2020.
FDA Extends Comment Period on Withdrawal Times

On September 11, 2019, the FDA extended the comment period for its request for public input on zero-day withdrawal periods and zero-day milk discard times for animal drugs.

Before and after the current Veterinary Feed Directive rules took full effect in January, 2017, the FDA focused primarily on education and outreach.
FDA Reports on VFD Compliance

On August 29, FDA released its first report on inspection and compliance activities.

Individual samples would be required for most trichomoniasis testing under the proposed TAHC rules.
TAHC Proposes New Rules for Trich, BVD

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has proposed a Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) control program, including designating BVDV as a reportable disease.

Ionophores and chlortetracycline were the antimicrobials fed on the highest percentages of feedlots.
NAHMS Reports Baseline Data on Antimicrobial Stewardship

New data from the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) provides a baseline for antibiotic trends in food animal during 2016, prior to implementation of key rule changes.

After reviewing comments, APHIS made considerable effort to address all concerns while maintaining program integrity.
APHIS Finalizes CWD Herd Certification Program Standards

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has finalized the Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program Standards that were originally published on March 29, 2018 for stakeholder feedback.

If animals change ownership but remain under the care of the same caretakers, the existing VFD remains valid.
Part 2: Webinar Addresses VFD Questions

In late March, FDA released its draft Guidance for Industry 120, which aims to address questions that emerged since implementation of the current Veterinary Feed Directive rules in 2017.

FDA will accept comments on the draft GFI until May 28.
Part 1: Webinar Addresses VFD Questions

When the FDA issued its final VFD rules back in 2015, they also released a draft guidance for industry offering answers to anticipated questions regarding application of the rules in common and unusual circumstances.

These courses are RACE Approved for CE credits for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians.
CFSPH Updates Immunology and Vaccinology Courses

The Center for Food Security and Public Health at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine has launched updated versions of two of its online veterinary immunology and principles of vaccinology courses.

The site contains web links for obtaining premises identification numbers (PIN) and location identifiers (LID) within livestock producers' respective States.
USDA APHIS Launches Interactive Map for Premises ID

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) launched an interactive website that provides livestock producers with important information.

The first webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at 12:00 pm Central Time, will focus on questions and answers as they apply to veterinarians.
Webinar to Outline FDA’s Update to VFD Policies

Earlier this year, the FDA provided updates to its Draft Guidance for Industry (GFI) 120, based on stakeholder questions regarding details around the veterinary feed directive (VFD) rules.

Wildlife populations can serve as reservoirs for brucellosis and tuberculosis, but extensive surveillance entails significant costs.
USDA Withdraws Proposed Change to TB, Brucellosis Programs

Based on comments received regarding a proposed rule, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced this week it will partially withdraw the proposal.

Scientific studies show that sheep with certain genotypes are resistant to or less susceptible to classical scrapie and are unlikely to get the disease.
USDA Updates Scrapie Regulations and Program Standards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS) is updating its scrapie regulations and program standards. 

Use of antimicrobials for growth promotion has declined from 60 to 45 countries since the last round of data collection.
OIE Report Shows Global Progress on Use of Antibiotics in Animals

Efforts toward improving stewardship of antibiotics in livestock production have gained momentum worldwide, with more countries regulating antibiotic use and collecting data to document trends.

APHIS has required permanent identification for imported Mexican cattle to improve traceability and help prevent spread of tuberculosis and brucellosis, which remain endemic in parts of Mexico.
USDA Modifies Branding Requirements for Mexican Cattle

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has published a final rule updating requirements for identifying cattle imported to the United States from Mexico.

The Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2004 helps veterinary pharmaceutical companies and others overcome the financial roadblocks they face in providing animal drugs for a limited market.
FDA Taking Grant Applications for Minor Use and Minor Species Drugs

The FDA this week announced an open period for applications for grants to support the development of new animal drugs intended to treat uncommon diseases (minor uses) in major species, or to treat minor species (MUMS).

USDA will phase out free metal tags for official ID, and initiate a cost-sharing program for radio-frequency tgs.
USDA Outlines Steps for Advancing Animal Disease Traceability

Plan includes cost-sharing for electronic ID, birth-to-slaughter traceability.

FDA audits typically begin with the feed distributor, with follow-up visits with veterinarians and producers when inspectors find inconsistencies. (John Maday)
VFD Audits: What to Expect

Follow the rules, keep good records and you shouldn’t have to worry about FDA audits.

AVMA joins several professional organizations in supporting stronger, standardized licensure requirements for veterinarians and technicians.
Veterinary organizations support strong licensure requirements

The AVMA, AAVSB, AAVMC and NAVTA have released a statement of support for licensing requirements. These groups are working to standardize and improve licensure standards for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

For almost 25 years, we have been working to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) from Michigan’s northeastern Lower Peninsula.
New Michigan Zoning Order Aims to Fight Bovine TB

For almost 25 years, we have been working to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) from Michigan’s northeastern Lower Peninsula.

Stakeholders on all sides of the issue expressed concern about APHIS’ ability to maintain responsibility for inspections and AWA compliance should third-party inspections be taken into account.
USDA Announces Policies for Animal-Welfare Inspections

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing that it will not establish new criteria for recognizing third-party inspection and certification programs.

The reporting will help APHIS provide complete and accurate information to consumers when problems occur with veterinary biologics such as vaccines.
USDA Issues Final Rule on Reporting Adverse Events

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently issued a final rule requiring reporting of all adverse events associated with veterinary biological products.

Feed distributors, like veterinarians and producers, must ensure VFD orders are valid and keep records available for at least two years.
VFD Audits: Start with the Feed Distributor

When state or federal authorities conduct an audit for compliance with veterinary feed directive (VFD) rules, they’ll begin at the feed distributor, working back as needed to veterinarians and producers.

FDA prefers distinctive drug names to avoid confusion and mistakes in product selection and dosage.
What’s in a Name?

FDA seeks clarity in naming new animal drugs.

The Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) system likely will phase out visual tags and adopt radio frequency tags for greater speed and accuracy.
Commentary: Get ahead of ADT

Animal identification and traceability seems to rise and fall as a priority for the U.S. livestock industry.

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FDA Issues Draft Guidance on GRAS Feed Ingredients

The FDA this week published a draft guidance regarding the process for listing food or feed ingredients as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). 

FDA Plans New Guidance on Animal Drug Compounding
FDA Plans New Guidance on Animal Drug Compounding

The FDA is withdrawing draft Guidance for Industry #230, “Compounding Animal Drugs from Bulk Drug Substances” and intends to issue a new draft for public comment next year.

Canada Updates ID Requirements for Breeding Cattle Imported From the U.S.
Canada Updates ID Requirements for Breeding Cattle Imported From the U.S.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice that Canada has updated its ID requirements for breeding cattle entering the country from the United States.