FDA: Stop ads for poultry, livestock antimicrobials

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration wants to stop the broadcast of TV and print ads that  promote the indiscriminate use of veterinary antimicrobials for fighting cocks and food-producing animals. In its Advisory 2013-006 dated April 3, the FDA said the indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in raising poultry and livestock may lead to harmful bacteria that will be resistant to antimicrobials. "The public is warned against the practice of indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in raising poultry and livestock animals. All veterinary drug outlets are prohibited from dispensing veterinary antimicrobials without the written order of a licensed veterinarian," acting chief Kenneth Hartigan-Go said. He also cited the Department of Health's Administrative Order No. 65 issued in 1989 which "prohibits the advertisement and promotion of all prescription or ethical drugs in any form of mass media." Veterinary antimicrobial products control infections and restores an animal's health. However, the FDA noted some veterinary antimicrobials are "admixed" in feeds or added in drinking water to promote growth, improve feed efficiency or feed conversion rate and to prevent disease. "The root of the problem is the practice of indiscriminate, improper and irrational use of veterinary antimicrobials in raising food-producing animals which favors the emergence and possible spread of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogenic or disease-causing bacteria in both animal and human populations," it said. "Food animals are also traded worldwide and as a result of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) affecting the animal food supply of one country may become a potential problem for other countries. Studies have shown in other countries that some human bacterial infections have proved difficult to treat even with limited use of new antibiotics for hospitalized patients," it added. — DVM, GMA News