Over-the-counter antibiotics for animals to move to prescription status by June 2023

For local livestock producers — and even pet owners — who are accustomed to jumping in their trucks and heading to a feed store, farm supply business or local co-op to purchase over-the-counter antibiotics for their animals, be prepared for a big change in the next year.

Many will recall that in 2017 the Food and Drug Administration began implementing the Veterinary Feed Directive, which focused on veterinary oversight of medically important antibiotics delivered to livestock through feed or water. The VFD really cut down on the abuse of antibiotics, said Dr. Darrell Tomky, a Holyoke veterinarian.

However, it left a significant loophole for products that were available over the counter by other dosage forms, according to an article by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a result, in June 2021, the FDA published Guidance for Industry No. 263 in order to close that loophole and remove any remaining medically important antimicrobials from over-the-counter markets.

The guidance recommends that sponsors of those drugs voluntarily put those products under veterinary oversight or prescription marketing status, said the UNL article. The product labels will now contain the prescription statement, “Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.”

Livestock producers won’t necessarily have to purchase the antibiotics from a veterinarian, but they will have to have a prescription from a licensed veterinarian with whom the they have a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship. That basically means the veterinarian knows an animal and/or the operation well enough to diagnose and treat a medical condition.

“Now, more than ever, producers need to seek out and establish a VCPR with a trusted veterinarian to provide input on antibiotic selection for their operations so that the best treatment options can be selected with antibiotic stewardship, animal welfare and livestock economics — all important decision-making factors,” said UNL.

An article by the American Veterinary Medical Association said that the FDA is implementing this as part of its broader effort to combat antimicrobial resistance, which is a serious threat to animal and public health. “Because any antibiotic use can contribute to antibiotic resistance, it’s important to avoid unnecessary or inappropriate use of these drugs,” said AVMA.

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