John Maday reviews preliminary qualitative feedback from an online survey currently in process. The rules in question include:
- FDA’s Guidance for Industry 213, which removes performance or production claims from the labels of medically important antibiotics.
- Expanded veterinary feed directive (VFD) rule which ends over-the-counter purchases of medically important feed-grade antibiotics, placing their purchase and use under the direct oversight of veterinarians.
Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, July 11, 2016.
Review some representative responses to the survey questions answered by participants to date:
- What do you see as the greatest challenge(s) in complying with the upcoming antibiotic rules?
- What do you see as the opportunities for producers (and veterinarians) as the rules take full effect beginning Jan. 1, 2017?
INSIGHTS: Responses suggest an ongoing need for veterinarians to help educate clients on the new rules and their effects, and to demonstrate the financial benefits of veterinary involvement in an operation’s herd health and overall management. Respondents showed concerns over timely processing of VFD requests, supply chain delays and the amount of paperwork required.
Global VetLINK, is one company already processing VFD-formatted documents via its online product FeedLINK®. The service is available to veterinarians and veterinary hospitals with a monthly subscription and specific charges per document thereafter. Producers can access their documents by signing on to FeedLINK® via computer, tablet or cellphone.