The Food and Drug Administration's final
rule concerning Veterinary Feed Directives (VFDs), which went into effect Jan. 1, is part of the agency’s overall strategy to help agriculture
producers make sensible decisions when administering antimicrobials to animals that provide food for consumption, an article on the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation website said.
The article goes on to list a few key points regarding the new rule.
First, the use of certain
medically important drugs in animal feed for production purposes, such as for growth
promotion or feed efficiency, will no longer be allowed, the article said. The feed containing
those drugs will still be available for use to prevent, control or treat
disease, but only with a written authorization form filled out by a veterinarian
working within the context of the Veterinarian-Client-Patient-Relationship
(VCPR).
The VCPR is only considered to exist when a vet assumes
responsibility for making judgments regarding the animal’s health and the need
for medical treatment, the article said. Additionally the client, or owner of the animal, must
agree to follow the advice of the veterinarian and the vet must have sufficient
knowledge of the animal to not only diagnose its medical condition, but to be available
for a follow-up evaluation or emergency coverage in the event of any sort of
treatment failure.
If producers think their animals need medicated
feed, they must get a written VFD from their veterinarian. The VFD must be
provided to the local feed mill or other feed distributor before the producer
will be able to purchase the medicated feed, the article said.
The VFD will have an expiration date, which producers must
abide by, as well as adhering strictly to the prescribed use for the feed, the article said. Distributors and veterinarians are also
subject to the FDA’s new final rule.
Producers and distributors must keep their VFDs for two years, the article said.
More Stories
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Announces one Vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Support Ag Literacy Through the AFB Foundation for Agriculture’s Online Silent Auction
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Farm Bureau: Members Accept Leadership Roles on National Committees
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Office of the Farm to Fork Invites Application for 2021 Farm to School Grants
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Awards Funding to Support Agricultural Education and Leadership Opportunities as part of the Calag Plate Program
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: AFBF Welcomes Nomination of Katherine Tai for U.S. Trade Representative
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Announces Vacancies on Feed Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcomittee
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: AFBF Stands-Up for Farmers in Predatory Shakedown
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CFDA Issues Stop Use Notice and Statewide Quarantine on Organic Fertilizer AGRO Gold WS
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Registration Open for American Farm Bureau Virtual Convention, Featuring Mike Rowe, Rorke Denver and Beth Ford