Tri-State Livestock News Reports on New Veterinary Medication Regulations
New veterinary medication regulations in effect June 11
News staff
Come mid-June, many common livestock antibiotics will be more difficult to access. June 11, 2023, marks the start of a new regulation requiring a veterinarian prescription for previously over-the-counter drugs.
This new rule is an extension of the existing 2017 Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), which was a part of the Animal Drug Availability Act of 1996. This act has undergone numerous rule changes in its 26 years of existence, mostly in response to stakeholder feedback and comments submitted to FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.
According to FDA, the initial 2017 rule converted about 96 percent of veterinary drugs to prescription or under veterinary feed directive. Many cattle producers have fought these regulations since their inception, citing a lack of understanding for animal husbandry and increased cost and time associated with treating sick animals.