California gets strict on livestock antibiotics
Print Edition
California Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill that sets the strictest government standards in the United States for the use of antibiotics in livestock production.
The move from California, known for its leadership on public health and environmental issues, comes amid growing concern that the overuse of such drugs is contributing to rising numbers of life-threatening human infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as “superbugs.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 2 million people in the country are infected with drug-resistant bacteria each year and that 23,000 die as a direct result.
“This puts California at the forefront of US efforts to address the overuse of antibiotics in meat production,” said Avinash Kar, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Roughly 70 percent of antibiotics important for human medicine are sold in the US for use in meat and dairy production, experts say.
Human infections
Veterinary use of antibiotics is legal. However, as the number of human infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria increases, consumer advocates, public health experts and investors have become more critical of the practice of routinely feeding antibiotics to chickens, cattle and pigs.
Some types of antibiotics can be purchased in the US without a prescription for animal care. Uses include disease treatment, prevention of illness in healthy animals and growth promotion.
The bill, which goes into effect on January 1, 2018, will restrict the regular use of antibiotics for disease prevention and bans antibiotic use to fatten up animals.
It also aims to stop over-the-counter sale of antibiotics for livestock use. Under the new rules, antibiotics would have to be ordered by a licensed veterinarian.
The move comes as large restaurants and retailers are beginning to follow pioneers such as Whole Foods Market and Chipotle Mexican Grill in adopting strict antibiotic policies.
Notably, McDonald’s USA in March said it would stop buying chicken raised with antibiotics vital to fighting human infections within two years.
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